"Some food to make you feel better"
This is one of Rebecca's newer phrases, and I'm not sure whether to try to discourage it or not. It started a couple of weeks ago, when we were out running errands, she had had a long morning, and I knew she was hungry and tired. She started crying when we got home (because she didn't want to go home yet), and I told her she would feel better after she ate some food. Well, now, whenever she wants food, she says, "Want some food to make you feel better." (She refers to herself as you, because that's how we refer to her.)
I don't want to encourage the habit of eating for comfort, although I think I myself feel especially comforted by certain foods (a good salad, good Tex-Mex, cheesecake, Starbuck's frappacinos--especially pumpkin spice, and all of my mom's specialties, particularly when I'm not the one making them); but I don't necessarily turn immediately to food if I need comforting, and I've never (thankfully) had much of a problem with weight fluctuation. Coming from a different angle, I also want Rebecca to grow up knowing that sometimes Mommy HAS to eat to feel better, but that's because Mommy is sick (we'll substitue the word diabetic for sick and add more details as she gets older).
I've never really worried about Rebecca's eating habits...she eats a large amount, and likes a wide variety of foods, and is a healthy size; but I don't know how much to try to help her at this age to distinguish between being hungry and needing comfort. I don't think she would necessarily understand the distinction at this point, but I don't want her to repeat the phrase so often that she can't get it out of her head when she gets older, either. Am I making too big of a deal about this? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
I don't want to encourage the habit of eating for comfort, although I think I myself feel especially comforted by certain foods (a good salad, good Tex-Mex, cheesecake, Starbuck's frappacinos--especially pumpkin spice, and all of my mom's specialties, particularly when I'm not the one making them); but I don't necessarily turn immediately to food if I need comforting, and I've never (thankfully) had much of a problem with weight fluctuation. Coming from a different angle, I also want Rebecca to grow up knowing that sometimes Mommy HAS to eat to feel better, but that's because Mommy is sick (we'll substitue the word diabetic for sick and add more details as she gets older).
I've never really worried about Rebecca's eating habits...she eats a large amount, and likes a wide variety of foods, and is a healthy size; but I don't know how much to try to help her at this age to distinguish between being hungry and needing comfort. I don't think she would necessarily understand the distinction at this point, but I don't want her to repeat the phrase so often that she can't get it out of her head when she gets older, either. Am I making too big of a deal about this? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
posted by Elisabeth | 9:59 AM
4 Comments:
Food does often make people feel better, hence, "comfort food." It's the first thing we think of when we hear a baby cry ("Are they hungry?"). I don't think you need to worry at this point about Rebecca taking that concept too far. As she gets older you will naturally talk more and more about physical and emotional aches and pains and how to attempt to "fix" them, with food being one of those ways, but not the only way!
It sounds cute to me. I know with raising girls we tend to be jumpy about relationships with food, but my girls are constantly picking up little lines to say (and say, and say...). Usually if little is said about it, they move on to something else within a week or two. They tend to really latch on to stuff, if I make too much emphasis on not doing it!
Note: This would not apply to bad words and things like that!
Hope this helps!
I think if you gave her a cookie every time she cried she would learn a destructive habit. Other than that, I think it's just so great how kids pick up on things. She'll be onto something new next week. I wouldn't worry about it.
I agree with what's been said. I don't think you should worry about it at this point.
Post a Comment
<< Home