What to do?

These days A & Gudiya are into fruit loops. Usually its cheerios but I guess they want colorful sugary stuff now:-) Most of the times I give them in the kitchen in separate bowl, to eat, to throw or whatever. We have a rule about eating in the living room, only snacks are allowed there and mommy will feed you cuz we don’t want food fights on the carpet or food under the sofas or under the table on daily bases to avoid bugs.

This morning I got one bowl of cereal. Just then someone called and I told Gudiya to wait for just a minute but both of them were fighting to eat on their own. I had an empty bowl too and I tried to split it for A but by now Gudiya has the possession of bowl & spoon and wasn’t even letting us to touch it. He took a cheerio but she started crying & held his hand and made him took it out of his mouth & put it back in the bowl:-O She did this 3 times and I had to tell my friend that I will call back later. I took her in the kitchen, crying & holding full bowl & spoon, and put her on the high chair. Told A to stay in the living room cuz she didn’t want him near her cheerios bowl. Got another cereal bowl for A cuz he wanted mamma to feed him.

She was in the kitchen for 40 minutes watching tv & eating peacefully and we have to go check on her every couple of minutes to see if she is eating one at a time instead of stuffing her mouth & spitting everything later. Still I had my tea peacefully & A ate without someone putting finger down his throat.

Now as Orchid mentioned that California is going to become a no spanking state, made me think what if every state pass that rule, then? I mean after whatever Gudiya did, I didn’t spank her or really yell at her. I just said, “No, you don’t do that. Share with A” and put them separate cuz usually whenever I give something to one kid, he/she demand another one to give it to the other kids. But what if she start doing, what she did today, everyday, then it won’t be the ignoring matter after more than 2-3 times and I have to yell at her or spank her.

With one kid things are different but with more than 1 it’s a whole circus and zoo like, even for the silliest things. Parents are more of a rafree then and you have to draw a line somewhere. At this age they don’t understand the time out concept so what do you do? And by passing these laws aren’t they taking away parents rights to teach kids the good things for everybody’s better future? I mean they are kids, they need a bit yelling Ok lots of yelling & warnings and at some point spanking has to come in the picture. Don’t u think?