I have now made LaLa leave the dinner table twice because of bad manners. My generally well behaved child has horrible table manners. It hasn't always been like this. She knows better. I guess I could blame it on her age, but I think it has more to do with the fact that other than her best girl friend, she likes to chum around with the boys at school. And boys think that burps are funny.
I don't. OK, if you can't help it, like if you have drank a fizzy drink, a little burp and an excuse me don't bother me at all. However, she has started doing ginormous earth shattering burps at the dinner table and then cackling in her chair like it is the funniest thing ever. At first I would just tell her "say excuse me", which then progressed to "that's gross, you need to say excuse me" to "that is really gross lala, if you do it again you're going to be in trouble" and now to "get up from the dinner table and go sit on your bed, I can't handle you being gross while I am eating". She is still cackling about it by the way. It doesn't seem to faze her that she is getting in trouble.
This behavior is also rubbing off on KiKi of course, because LaLa is her hero. She also however says sorry when I give her the "I'm very cross" look, so there is hope still to nip this one in the bud. I am just at a loss as to what to do with LaLa now. What would your next move be? I thought little girls were supposed to be made of sugar and spice and everything nice, not hot gas and apparently amazing abdominal strength.
11 comments:
Ugh. I have to say some boys DO have horrible table manners and it's accepted because "that's what boys do." Indy does NOT because I won't tolerate it. Of course if he has to burp because of something like a fizzy drink, I can understand (and he quickly says "excuse me"), but burping on purpose or because it's funny is NOT acceptable. And Indy likes his food way too much to do anything to be sent away from the table. What's her currency? Find that and threaten to take it away if she continues. Maybe being sent from the table isn't a big deal to her. For Indy being sent to his room isn't a punishment. He has to go sit in the bathroom (I had to do this when I was a child and the bathroom is sooooo boring).
Best of luck to you. Being a parent is HARD.
If by sugar and spice you mean raw beets and cayenne, then yes, mine are also made of such material. Who knew such foul sounds could come out of such tiny creatures in pink? (Ok they are still toddlers, but I'm concerned)...
I really sympathise with you. It is gross and children should be told. I had a friend here for lunch one day last summer and she brought her 2 children. They burped for England all the way through their food and thought it was hilarious. The mother just laughed along with them whilst I was constantly telling Amy to stop laughing and not to join in.
Unfortunately, Amy has a problem with wind and often can't help it, but she does get told when it's excessive.
CJ xx
Well, she's doing it for attention and negative attention is better than nothing at all, so the next thing to try is not doing a thing. No eye contact, no words. If she continues to do it, then serve her meal somewhere away from the table the next time and tell her that you won't have burpers at the table. Give her the choice - she can eat with you when she shows some manners. Don't make a big deal of it. The thing that would piss her off the most is if you served it on a baby plate etc. because only babies burp and make rude noises. (That might be a bit too cruel but who knows...)
I, for one, am quite proud of her burping power. But I guess that talent should be saved for the bar scene...which is like more than a decade away for her.
I don't remember this being an issue with my brothers or myself, but mostly because my mother didn't hesitate to beat the shit out of us and also I REALLY liked dinner time! :)
Boys find it hilarious. I can't do anything about it so have given up in the face of all 4 boys in this house cracking up in hysterics at every burp. One boy is nearly 40. The other is 5 months.
The dog and I do our best to turn up our female noses at their revolting behaviour.
you have GOT to come to kindergarten one day.
for sure.
We have a child now that like to roam from chair to chair to chair. So if she sat down and just burped I would be thrilled :)
have you tried the nose in the circle on the wall? This use to work when she was little. Tell her if she is going to act like a baby then she will get the baby punishment.
This is just a passing phase but it can be very annoying and you certainly don't want KiKi getting in on the act.
Hugs and kisses to all.
Granny
Arghh.. I'm about to introduce Oli to a dining table for the first time in our new house, am hoping we get off to a good start with the right kind of manners! Good luck with nipping it in the bud!
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