The Results So Far

One week ago I got fed up with Kate's complaining about always being hungry or thirsty (always thirsty at inconvenient times that is). It happened when I took the kids out to the museum. I put two and a half bottles of water at the bottom of the stroller for when we went to the musuem part after wards. There is no food or water allowed in the museum, but I did not want to go all the way back to the car, and the kids wanted to play at the park. We had a nice time in the museum, with the exception of all the nagging from me when it came time to move from point a to point b. (Rather difficult with 6 children). Around the time we were finished, Kate began complaining about being thirsty. I said, "well, let's hurry up and leave so you can get a drink of water." Unfortunately, Kate happened to be the main child who would not come. (am I suppose to understand this?) When we finally got outside, Kate grabbed a bottle of water and began drinking while we walked up to the park. When we got to the park I nursed the baby and ran around with Adam and Rachel until Johnny came to me saying that he was thirsty. I simply told him to get a bottle of water from under the stroller. He said, "Kate drank all of the water." Indeed she had. I felt mad and frustrated. We had to stop playing and go back to the car for more water (which meant going home). I told Kate that she was very inconsiderate, and if she would just drink when she had a drink and eat when she had food she would not have these problems. At that point, I decided that Kate's punishement would be that she would not be allowed to leave the table at meals and snacks until she ate all and drank all. I have not done this very much, because I mostly go under the assumption that kids can decide when they have had enough, and because John and I both hate force feeding, and we both hated being force fed. But I wanted to try this out on Kate. It has been one week now, and actually, after one day, John and I were astonished at the results. Kate has not complained that she is hungry or thirsty (unless, I forgot to put out a snack or was late getting meals). Kate has not stood with the fridge opened or made any food messes. That is what I was hoping would happen. But this is what has astonished us-- Kate is not complaining about anything at all. She is happy, and nice. She hasn't been saying anything mean to her siblings (a problem we have been working on with Kate since the first grade). I often would think of Kate with the nickname "Katecomplaint." I worried about Kate never being happy or satisfied in her life. I have tried a lot of things to get Kate to be more possitive. Well, apparently I needed to make her eat. Kate has not complained about anything since last Thursday. I am utterly astonished. So John and I have been making all the rest of our kids drink their drinks every meal. Everyone else generally eats unless they hate what is provided. Kate has to eat wether she likes the food or not now. But Kate has started doing this somewhat on her own too. She also recognized that she felt better, and happier. I hope things will continue to be better for "HappyKate".