The Finicky Child AcademicPaper Abstract

Are you a mother or a father of two or more children?  Do you find that their personalities, likes and dislikes are completely opposite of the other sibling(s).  Do you wonder where in the world they came up with these certain traits because neither parent has exhibited such behavior?  Well that was me all rolled up into a nutshell.  I had my first child when I was 30, what a joyful experience it was with the exception of gaining 75lbs during my pregnancy.  All mother's think their sons are angels, I am not the exception.  Joseph was a perfect baby in every aspect.  He didn't cry much, slept at night, and ate anything and everything I put in front of his face.  This was wonderful, children were wonderful, so I had another.  Whoa...put on the breaks and slap me silly.  Where did this one come from?  He can't be mine or his fathers, no way, no how.  Gabriel was a gorgeous looking child, labor was easy.  Immediately I thought he would be easy.  Not the case; it developed early on when he continuously threw food off his plate.  Exhibiting his scrunched up nose before he wailed as loud as his little lungs would let him.  Before Gabriel, I used to listen to my niece while she was being a completely difficult child to her mother.  She would go to Taco Bell and order a burrito.  Okay, well that was normal.  But...she would order a burrito with extra sauce, extra lettuce, no cheese and no onions.  God forbid they screwed up the order because you would pay for it dearly, and her mother would give into her whines and pouts by driving all the way back to Taco Bell to get what the girl wanted just so she wouldn't have to listen to the temper tantrum.  Witnessing a few of these episodes, Id quietly whisper to my husband telling him there would be no way in hell that I would put up with such a picky child.  My children were going to eat what was put in front of them and like it.  If they didn't then tough.  I knew and my mother knew that it would only be time before the child gave in and ate.  After all they wouldn't starve themselves to death.  Well back to Gabriel; as he grew older and developed into a handsome 6 year old I now realized that he was winning and I had turned into my sister-in-law.  How could I have let this happen?  Every night I cook dinner.  Mommy eats, Daddy eats, and Joseph eats.  All done without any complaints.  Gabriel ventures up to the table, takes one look at the dinner prepared; pouts and then vocalizes his disapproval.  It's the same old routine every single night.  After a while of listening to him bantering on about how much he dislikes something Id usually give in and make him some toast or chicken soup.  These were the only two items that I could guarantee he would eat unless I cut the toast the wrong way or accidently put too much butter on the bread.  This child hated every all american kids meal.  He didn't like spaghetti, hamburgers, hotdogs, tacos, or other similar items.  He hated sauce on anything and everything had to be warmed up in the microwave, even if it was Vienna sausages or salami.  Even then it wasn't a guarantee he was going to eat it whether you made it his way or not.  After all that, Gabriel is still with us, he is not a little stick creature from lack of eating.  He resembles a very normal healthy child, who has an attitude and is really finicky.  Something I as a mother will have to live with.  I often hope this cycle of his dislikes breaks, but until then I will keep working on him and let him think that he is getting his way for now.