Dinnertime

As those parents with young toddlers will attest, mealtime is often a chore that will make you work and sweat.  Whether it's protesting against the food, or refusing to sit still, these little rugrats make what ought to be an enjoyable family dinnertime into sheer mayhem.

Maddie was no different.  At an early age (say, 18 months) she started resisting the highchair and climbing out during mealtimes.  The booster chair offered a brief reprieve but soon she was unlatching the belt-buckle herself to climb off.  Sitting in the regular chair gave her the freedom to leave at will, but with her pint-size frame, her eyeballs barely made it over the top of the table.  Enter the fluffy and functional Ikea Ritva chair cushion.  Sitting on them boosted her head above the table and gave her bony butt the cushion it deserved.  And, priced at a mere $6.99, these durable cushions were one of my top Mommy Buys of the year. I had forgotten how practical and affordable Ikea was.  Love this store!

But now to solve the ADHD issue with her constant wiggling and leaving the dinner table, we have admittedly resorted to iPhone videos and DVDs as distractions.  With a little persistence and praise, however, it seems that Maddie has turned the corner and has improved on her table-side manners (use of hands instead of utensils notwithstanding):



I felt like an undercover reporter with the secretly placed camera but it was the only way I could get the video going without her reaching for it with her greasy mitts.

Ahhhh, peace has once again returned to the dinner table.