Never Again

Momsie,
I can remember how it was a taboo to leave leftovers in our plate. We just had to clean up the plate and if we couldn't we either threw it over the fence into the empty plot next door or piled it up on someone else's plate (if that person was silly enough to leave his/her leftover in the kitchen). If we were caught with leftovers, we just had to eat it all up.

Well I learnt a very important lesson yesterday, "NEVER FORCE YOUR CHILD TO EAT BEFORE BEDTIME" (especially when there is nothing wrong with her). Feeling like the good mother I am, I told Idunnu it was time to eat her dinner. The young child said she wanted to sleep and not eat. Did I listen to her? No! I told her in my sternest voice "Eat your food". I even enlisted the help of my husband to make sure she cleared her plate. With both parents against her, the little one had no option than to eat everything on her plate. After bathing her, she went straight to bed (my undoing). After a few hours, we all retired for the day.

I was deep in slumberland having great adventures when suddenly I heard "grrrrr, grrrr", the sound of vomiting. Without processing the details, I jumped up, grabbed the first child I could lay my hands on and rushed her to the bathroom. It was Idunnu. Her eyes were not even opened, she was obviously still asleep. Vomit was everywhere - on the bed, on her sister, on the floor,she gave back to me everything I dished on her plate. I am grateful she didn't choke on her vomit and so glad I didn't sleep through it all. As I cleaned upwith my huband assisting me, I made up my mind, "Never again will I force her to eat, Never Again".

With Fond Memories,
Deeso Mama