Chapter 43 Breakfast: Meals Without Morals

Breakfast time is not a good time to teach your children general philosophy, moral principles, or good manners.For parents, this is only a good time to prepare nutritious food for children and help them leave for school on time. Generally speaking, breakfast is a difficult time of the day.Many times, parents or children are sleepy and in a bad mood, and arguments can easily turn into reprimands and blame, as in the following example: Debbie (rumouring in the fridge, throwing things away): What's for breakfast?There is never anything to eat in this house and you never buy me anything I like to eat!

Mom (very upset, justified): You said I never buy you something you like to eat, what do you mean?I bought you all the things you like to eat, but you don't know what to eat.Now I want you to sit down and eat what's in front of you and go to school! Debbie's behavior made her mother angry, and she responded by making her daughter even more angry, and the two went to work and school in a bad mood. It is important not to let the child determine the parent's responses or emotions.Instead of fighting back, Debbie's mother can acknowledge her daughter's complaints and have a pleasant morning.

Mom: You can't seem to find anything you like this morning. Deb: No, there's nothing I like to eat, and I'm not very hungry, just a banana. Another mother recounted: "In the past, small things could hurt me and my children. Big things happened several times a day. But now I have learned to understand the children's messages and answer them with empathy. Just Like the other day, at breakfast, at the dinner table, my five-year-old daughter, Ramona, refused to eat breakfast and started complaining." Ramona: My teeth are tired and they feel like the roots want to sleep.

Instead of taunting her, her mother acknowledged her complaints. Mom: Oh, you haven't woken up at the root of your teeth yet. Ramona: No, this tooth had a nightmare. Mom: Let me see, oh dear, this tooth is loose. Ramona: Will it fall into my porridge? When her mother reassured her that the tooth wasn't falling out, Ramona lifted her spirits and picked up a spoon to eat her porridge. Stan's father tells the following: "I overreact to any surprise, which makes the conflict even worse. Then I try to put out the fire I started, like a smart person who knows how to get out of a hole, and a A wise person doesn't fall down a hole in the first place. Recently, I decided to be a wise person, not a smart person. Instead of blaming my children when they get into trouble, I help, Just like I did recently. Recently, my ten-year-old son Paul wanted to prepare his own breakfast. One morning, I heard him sobbing quietly in the kitchen. He was cooking two poached eggs and one of them fell on the floor. I did not Shout 'Look what you've done! What a mess! Why didn't you be careful?' Instead, say to him: 'You got up softly and made yourself such beautiful poached eggs, and one fell on the floor.'"

PAUL (timidly): Yes. Father: Are you hungry? PAUL (looks happier): But there's an egg on the plate. Father: Then you eat an egg first, and I will cook another one for you.