Fear Factor

So, we have a 2 1/2 year old that just isn't into eating meals (but treats are always welcomed). In order to get her to eat, we usually have to resort to bribing her. The other night, she would not eat her ravioli at all, that is until hubby offered her M&M's. Reluctantly, she took a bite of her now cold cut up ravioli and the fun began.

Then, it started...

Only two chews into it, and she began to gag. Not just a small gag, but the loud kind where a horrible cough follows and you see all of the food in her mouth. However, instead of spitting it out, she held on, and eventually swallowed it. I looked at hubby and said "Yes! The Fear Factor winner! You would think she was eating a bug or something in order to win $50,000!"

But alas, all she received was her little red M&M, which was completely fine with her. She, however, did not take any more bites of Fear Factor ravioli.

I looked at hubby, and couldn't quite figure out if we were exceptional parents for getting her to eat, or horrible parents for tricking our child into gagging herself for an ever so small piece of candy. I think probably a little bit of both.

Having said that, even though Punky is a horrible eater, I am very thankful for a healthy child. I know there are many parents out there who wish their only worry was getting their child to eat three meals a day. And for that matter, I am thankful we can afford to give her three good meals each day. Hopefully someday, she will be thankful for this too, and eat supper without having to be bribed.