EAT!

Posted on | April 26, 2011 | 10 Comments

My son has always been a healthy eater. He’s not too picky; spinach, peas, and even onions regularly make the list of favorite go-to foods. But when he is hungry, he wants to eat right. that. minute.

The microwave is not his friend.

The toaster is not his friend.

And good Lord. If you take him to a restaurant, you better bring snacks because he is NOT a fan of waiting on food. There are nuclear breakdowns every time he sees food and then it is taken away. Like when Momma is so mean as to heat up food before giving it to him. Or when the table next to him at the restaurant has food and he doesn’t.

It’s so embarrassing. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s also adorable, but only when other patrons at the restaurant are understanding. When they aren’t, I tend to get the side eye glare from hell. I get the death stare of “Please control your child.” I get the uncomfortable smile that really says “I hate you and your son and I wish I could ask for another table.”

But whatever. He’s 20 months old. Get over it people.

The other day, my mother and I took him to a pancake house for breakfast. My son is sort of like a hobbit in that he must have both first and second breakfast. This was second breakfast, so I thought he’d be semi-patient for his food.

I thought wrong.

The sweet couple sitting beside of us got their delicious looking food about ten minutes before ours came. My son watched the waitress set the food down on their table and watched them cut into their breakfast. And then he began trying to climb out of his highchair and into their laps in order to share their breakfasts.

It was … laughably awkward.

The tables were way too close together to pretend he wasn’t literally trying to jump in their laps. They were way too close to pretend that he wasn’t actually begging for food like a small but very vocal puppy.
And the word on his lips?

“EAT!”

It’s what he says when he wakes up.

It’s what he says when it’s time for dinner.

It’s what he says the minute his little butt hits the bottom of any chair at any table.

To the couple who kindly ignored the fact that my 30 pound son was trying to steal their pancakes, thank you. And to the waitress that recognized J’s frantic need for food and brought him a plate of bananas? Oh my Lord, thank you. Because when my child wants to eat, he wants to eat right. that. minute. And honestly? How do you refuse this face? (He’s demanding, but he’s cute.)

Feed me, Seymour!

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10 Responses to “EAT!”

R's Mom
April 26th, 2011 @ 2:07 pm

First off, that picture at the end of the post…adorable!

R likes to eat when he wants to eat, too. I have resorted to always keeping a snack cup on hand (you know…the kind with the lid that the child can stick his hand into without throwing cheerios or goldfish everywhere). Sometimes I have to hand it to him with just a few cheerios in it while I fix his dinner (not too many cheerios to spoil his appetite, but the diversion simmers him down!). And I definitely have to have this with me at restaurants! Works like a charm.
Lori
April 26th, 2011 @ 2:59 pm

J IS adorable – he must be very hard to resist.

My son was a lot like that too. I often brought snacks (or sometimes even his whole meal). Other times I would immediately order his food (usually along with the beverage order)and ask the server to bring it out as soon as it was ready. it was never a problem with the servers, but I was sure to tip a little extra for the additional trips to the table.
Jamie
April 26th, 2011 @ 3:11 pm

Second breakfast! I love it! J is such a cutie and God bless that waitress for coming to the rescue with those bananas; I’m guessing yours was the most generous tip she got all morning!
Stephanie
April 26th, 2011 @ 3:33 pm

Love the 1st and 2nd breakfast, too funny! I feel for you and how hard it must be to keep him happy when he sees food… I just wish my kid would eat at restaurants. For some reason, my 28lb 18 month old, eats like a bird! Grrr.
Shelley
April 26th, 2011 @ 4:10 pm

My daughter is 3 1/2 and she is still like that. She eats ALL OF THE TIME.
D
April 26th, 2011 @ 4:43 pm

My daughter is the same way – when she decides she wants something (i.e. Food) she wants it NOW!!!! But she has very limited palet and will scream at us for trying to offer her chicken nuggets, which she loves but forgets that sometimes, or even when she reaches for a bite of something on my plate I know she wont like and I offer it to her anyway. HUGE.WAILS.AND.TEARS. Lord help us through this phase!!
Roxanne
April 26th, 2011 @ 4:45 pm

I have the opposite problem. I can’t get my kiddo to eat. He’s 4, and this has been a problem for a while. I mean, he weighs enough and isn’t unhealthy at all. But getting him to eat an entire hot dog (without bun), or even to finish a small apple, is just torture.

Although if I make asparagus, he’ll devour it all. And if I make anything with onions or spinach, he snacks on them while I’m cooking.
Maija @ Maija's Mommy Moments
April 26th, 2011 @ 5:57 pm

I actually miss those days. My son barely eats anything and my youngest daughter who is the same age as J used to eat anything you put in front of her now you’re lucky if she takes a bite. I know one day they are going to eat me out of house and home but some days I wonder why I even bother cooking.
Jennifer
April 26th, 2011 @ 7:53 pm

If I had been that couple I would have passed him a pancake.
MaconMom
September 27th, 2011 @ 2:28 pm

Hilarious and just like my 18 month old. Two breakfasts and no waiting allowed. It’s so comforting to read that someone experiences/experienced the same moments!

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EAT!

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