https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 16:23:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house/page/2#post-2521433 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 13:10:10 +0000 Boogs 2521433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pretty much never. It is super exhausting, especially days I solo parent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house/page/2#post-2521210 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:54:14 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2521210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: That was tough. I did a lot of eating while holding him. A lot of crumbs spilled on his little head! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house/page/2#post-2521207 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:53:49 +0000 Ms maths 2521207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids sit in their seats, at least for a while. They are also fine eaters. And they eat as much or as little as they want of what's for dinner, so we don't have games or fights about it at dinner.</p> <p>But I still wouldn't call dinner "pleasant." Both kids are normally pretty hungry by the time dinner is on the table--otherwise they wouldn't eat!--and impatient to be served. Then one child or the other needs something every couple of minutes: something cut up, or a second serving, or more milk, or a bib because the other kid has one, or water instead of milk, etc. So one of us is popping up to help them throughout the meal. Then either they are done eating after 5-10 minutes and are anxious for us to go do something else with them, or they take 45 minutes for dinner and we are impatiently waiting for them. It's not miserable, but it's not the relaxing dinners I used to have :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house/page/2#post-2521148 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:08:05 +0000 pachamama 2521148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I have a 3 month old who is very fussy in the evenings so dinners are miserable! My husband and I take shifts eating and the other one carries him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house/page/2#post-2521145 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:06:12 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2521145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mother things its absurd the amount of "games" we put up with at dinner time but I'm not sure how to fix it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house/page/2#post-2521143 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:05:46 +0000 ShootingStar 2521143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dinner is ok most of the time. Because I've given up. I've stopped making DS come to the table. I ask him if he wants to eat and he usually says no. So DH and I eat and usually by the time we're about done, DS comes out and says he wants something. He gets in his chair, eats 3 bites, and decides he's done. </p> <p>Part of me feels like this is just not how dinner is supposed to be done. But the other part of me is so tired of trying to convince him to eat and the yelling "no like it. no like it. want down. want down!" </p> <p>At restaurants we just buy his good behavior with screen time :meh: . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2521140 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:05:14 +0000 mrsjyw 2521140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These days we spend a lot of time convincing DS1 to finish his plate on the bad days and probably over feeding our ravenous almost 9 month old! :P</p> <p>Other days are good, DS1 eats without making a peep and DS2 seems satisfied with his lil portion of our dinner. DH and I get to eat together and catch up about the work day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2521124 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 08:56:42 +0000 looch 2521124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had to adjust my expectations. Once I did that, it's been better. And just as an aside, our best meals as a family are breakfast on the weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2521093 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 08:41:28 +0000 snowjewelz 2521093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: K is so good eating out too... I think the people watching really occupies her. Sadly we rarely eat out haha! </p> <p>It's definitely a hit or miss over here. Ever since she moved to 1 nap, her nap is still relatively early so during the week by the time I get home she's already tired/cranky. So I'm hoping as her nap gets pushed back little by little, she'll be less cranky! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2521082 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 08:23:57 +0000 Ash 2521082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dinner time is a disaster because of our 2 year old... 😶</p> <p>It's funny you said you thought you've been doing it wrong because I just told dh this same thing last night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2521011 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 06:11:23 +0000 winniebee 2521011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: I said, great, I'll miss dinner more often then! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2521002 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 02:42:17 +0000 Pumuckl 2521002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes.</p> <p>While not everything goes smoothly with a 3 year old and a 15 month old I really like the social aspect of it. And while it is a PITA to remind my DS a thousand times over to stay in his seat after he is finished but not everyone else is, he also talks about his days at dinner and it is usually the time of day (or at the breakfast we all have together as well) that we talk about plans etc. We are lucky though that our kids are not overly picky eaters. So we don't have this aspect to worry about. And my 15m DD smacking her lips because she likes dinner is just about the cutest thing ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520990 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 00:39:05 +0000 sometimesshesings 2520990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dinner time usually goes pretty well for us. We have a 3.5 year old who is typically unpredictable about what he'll eat and how focused he is and a 5 month old who may or may not be fussy. But we always sit down together, our motto is "you don't have to eat it" (but no snacks later), and we generally won't keep getting up to fetch things once we've sat down (more milk can wait.) I think we're fairly laid back about the actual eating and have high expectations when it comes to behavior. Not that things don't go to hell sometimes, because they totally do! Also, a glass of wine/beer with dinner is key! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520987 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 23:53:28 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2520987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's not horrible, but I definitely wouldn't call it pleasant either. They do eat, so can't complain there... but it's a lot of, "mommy, can you get me some milk?", "mommy, I need a napkin", "mommy, I need to GO POTTY!!!!", "mommy, I dropped my spoon!"... and so on and so forth. I feel like right when I sit down and am about to put a bite in my mouth, I get right back up again. And finally, when I'm all settled in and everyone has what they need... they are done! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520986 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 23:44:42 +0000 lamariniere 2520986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not usually. My older one either talks the entire time (which means he isn't eating) or eats incredibly slowly. At least he will try a bite of new things even if he doesn't like it. My younger one will only eat if she's hungry/feels like it. It could be her favorite food in the world and she will turn her nose up at it if she doesn't want it. She will also take like 3 bites, say "I'm all done" and then get up and go play. I wish I had a way to strap her in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520965 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 21:27:25 +0000 yoursilverlining 2520965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pleasant is definitely not a word I would use to describe it - although LO is much better behaved out at restaurants or other people's homes, so I can't complain really. </p> <p>It isn't horrible either....it's just herding cats. LO would never eat if I didn't force her to, so it's a simmering battle between eating and playing/doing absolutely anything else in the world but eating. It always turns into a hostage negotiation, and it's just tiring and frustrating. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520957 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 21:11:50 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2520957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say it's pleasant generally. We have our nights of madness, but I do enjoy family dinner time. I think it works because we meal plan and are both home from work by 5pm. Our son has always been an eater, so he's been happy to stay at the table. In fact, our main issue is trying to *end* dinner because he takes 40+ minutes to eat sometimes!<br /> When our daughter was born, dinner time was chaos, but she's 3 months now and it's settling back to normal. I have no idea what will happen when she starts eating food, though, because she's pretty much the opposite of her brother! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520952 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:56:30 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2520952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I.mean it's not horrible. It usually "starts" with DD2 screaming continously for the last 15 minutes of me getting dinner ready. I sit everyone down. DD1 complains that she doesn't like dinner and asks for something else. I say no and get both girls some water. I sit back down . DD2 needs something else. I get it and sit back down. DD1 has left the table and come back like 5 times. DD2 is whining again for unknown reason. DD1 wants me to hold her but I've only taken like 3 bites and I'm hungry. DD2 is finished and crying, DD1 has had a total of 4 bites on a good day, and I have barely eaten. I finish my dinner while DD2 cries at my feet and DD1 climbs all over me and complains about how she wishes we were eating something else. I hate dinner time. When we're put it always goes well though </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520947 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:47:55 +0000 macintosh 2520947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Relatively pleasant most days. E is 11 months so he still throws a lot of food, but if I serve something I know he likes he does pretty well. What's frustrating is when he refuses to put a bite of anything in his mouth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520946 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:46:03 +0000 MrsF 2520946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Oh I hope my husband knows better than to ever say that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520939 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:36:30 +0000 winniebee 2520939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: we had a lot of tears over not having the exact same sippy cup as big bro. My bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520938 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:35:53 +0000 winniebee 2520938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The kicker? If I ever have to miss dinner with the kids, my husband remarks at how quiet and pleasant dinner is. :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520936 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:30:52 +0000 MrsF 2520936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are occasionally pleasant moments during dinner (usually when DH and I just give up and maybe everyone is laughing at the same time for a second). Overall though, it's noisy and exhausting.</p> <p>Today the 1 year old cried the entire time because he wanted ketchup and only ketchup on his tray. Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520935 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:30:49 +0000 Mae 2520935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. Basically the same as your house. We hate it but I do think it is important for us to eat together sometimes. We aim to eat together at least 3 times/week and the other 3-4 times/week we just eat after LO goes to bed so we can actually enjoy our food haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520933 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:29:38 +0000 MamaG 2520933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not generally and eating out is even worse. C cannot keep her behind in a chair.ever! And K just thinks if she's near a table that she has to have a continuous stream of food to stuff her mouth with. Mealtimes are so stressful for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520931 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 20:23:24 +0000 CRGmama 2520931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sometimes it's totally fine, other times it's just awful. DH and I are crossing our fingers that our second son is a better eater than his brother. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520922 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 19:54:40 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2520922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520919 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 19:49:08 +0000 GrapeCrush 2520919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hahahahahahahaha ... Not a chance. We hate dinner, and often wish we didn't need to feed them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520908 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 19:21:10 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2520908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most of the time it's pretty pleasant now that my DH is home for dinner (he used to work nights so it was just me and the 3 kids every night for dinner).</p> <p>The baby usually naps through dinner time. If she's up, she will sit in the high chair and gnaw on a rice rusk until I'm ready to feed her. The two older kids sit at the table with us. They usually don't eat much and get up as soon as they're done, but then they play with each other and entertain themselves while DH and I eat. Since I do all the cooking, DH usually cleans the kitchen while I get the older 2 kids ready for bed. Dinnertime is pretty enjoyable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-dinner-time-a-pleasant-experience-in-your-house#post-2520902 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 19:07:00 +0000 Peasinapod 2520902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try not to stress about what she's eating and once she's done she can get out of her high chair and play. I'm still nursing at 19 months though which may help me feel reassured even if she didn't eat the greatest at dinner she's getting what she needs! </p>