Ok, ok. I’m not
really starving my children, but they tried to tell me I am. I’m sure most parents have been there. I just decided I was going to quit feeding
into their guilt trips when it comes to food.
Food is a necessity, but does not have to be a luxury. We are having a rough month financially and I
was tired of my teenagers wanting me to buy so much fast food, frozen premade
food and snacks, and soda. I had had enough
and it was costing us a fortune. They have
also become extremely lazy and I’m trying to make them more responsible young
adults.
So what did I
do? When they said they were hungry, I
told them to find something in the house to eat. “But mom, we don’t have any food”. “Really?” I said. I knew we had food. They just didn’t feel like cooking and there wasn't
anything they wanted that was quick and easy.
At that moment, I could have come up with at least 4 meals they could
have made themselves. I just ignored
them. I knew if they were hungry enough
they would find something. They were old
enough to cook for themselves at the ages of 14 and 18. I work long days and I’m not coming home
after working 10-11 hours to cook for them anymore.
A few days later, I get home from work one evening. I look at my daughter sitting on the couch
with a goofy look on her face. I asked
her what was wrong. She said “I’m hungry”. “You are?” I replied. She says “we have officially run out of food”. Hmmm.
I knew this was still not the case.
She then says “please send me somewhere to pick up dinner. I’m so hungry I just ate a bowl of cream of
wheat and I hate cream of wheat!”. “Well
if you just ate cream of wheat you shouldn't be hungry then” I replied. Nope. I’m
still not giving in.
It’s about three days later and the only thing I have
purchased from the grocery store is paper towels (my son has sent me 3 text
messages within the last week reminding me we need paper towels, like that is
something we can’t live without) and cheese and pizza sauce to make our own
pizza.
But I’m not just doing this to save myself money. I’m also trying to prove a point. The point being they are old enough and
capable enough to start cooking for themselves and that there are people out
there much worse off than we are. I’m also
trying to force all of us (myself included) to get more creative in the kitchen
and use what we have rather than run out to buy food that we want when we
already have plenty of food that can be prepared in the house.
I take full blame for them becoming this way since I have
usually given in to the guilt trips in the past. Unfortunately, this is the only way to break
this bad habit of eating out and buying them food when it isn't needed. The kids went to their dad’s house for the
weekend and I’m wondering if I will receive a text or call from him any minute
now asking why I’m starving his children.
If I do, I will gladly ask him to come on over and have a look in our
cabinets to see that they are not bare.
I would love to hear if anyone else has “starved” their
children. Please share in the comments
below!
photo credit: Dinner for One via photopin (license)Labels: frugality
