What would you do if you were in my place?
He is 10yrs old and I feel like I wait on him the entire time I am watching him. ALSO, he drinks like a TON of milk while he is here, not to mention that he eats a lot (and asks for things that he hasn't been offered!!!) and I end up with an empty milk carton, no food and dirty dishes to do! ALSO, we live in a studio apt so when he comes over, he wants to watch TV (never wants to play or go outside) and he sprawls out all over our bed. I have nowhere to sit! I mean, I can sit at the computer, or hell, I could go in the kitchen and wash the dishes he makes as he makes them and make him more food!!! Arg. Am I overreacting or is he too old to be so dependent and is he old enough to know better than to ask for seconds and tirds and for food he hasn't been offered???
2007-07-25 12:41:18 · 8 answers · asked by Noodle 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
She pays me well and she is a friend but I feel like HE is running the show and I feel that as the adult I should be someone he resepcts and shouldn't take advantage of! (He also complains of being bored. My mom tells me I should put him to work next time he says that! hahaha but I can't!)
2007-07-25 12:42:26 · update #1
I would offer him milk only at meal time; the rest of the time he should be drinking water. Get a plastic water bottle and tell him he can refill it as much as he likes with water, but milk and food are only for meal time. You could offer a snack at a certain time of day, something like fruit, Ants on a Log, A couple cubes of cheese, a hard boiled egg, etc.
Then tell him he may watch X hours of TV. That's it. Have some books and arts & crafts stuff for him to do inside and a bunch of stuff outside. Make a list of all the things he can do. When he says he's bored, show him the list and tell him to choose one or you will.
He may be lonely and doesn't know how to deal with it. Maybe you could plan some of your outside activities so you two are doing something together. Wash your car, do art on the sidewalk, play catch or soccer, throw water balloons, go for a walk to the store or park or shoot some hoops.
Stop waiting on him. You're not a servent. Just explain that in your house, everyone cleans up after themselves and show him how. Set limits on what food is available to him. You are under no obligation to feed him everything in your kitchen. You might need to talk to his mom about this if he continues to disrespect you.
2007-07-25 20:14:44 · answer #1 · answered by imamom4god 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have this problem with my own 8 year old twins. They eat everything and anything. I've started to give them their own snack bin. I put things in it the night before. They can take things out (about 5 per day) and once they are done, they're done. I've also started the rule that milk is for meals, water for the rest of the day. We were going through over a gallon a day.
Start cutting back on the TV. Let him know that he's only able to watch TV for 2 hours (that's PLENTY) while he's at your house. Make one day a TV free day. Stick to it. He may complain (a lot) but it's your house and your sanity that has to come first.
Start now or it will only get worse. Once kids realize that they have any kind of power over you, they'll push that power to the limit.
2007-07-25 22:23:45 · answer #2 · answered by Clarissa N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He has you around his little finger. It's a tough spot to be in, but you CAN extricate yourself, with some difficulty.
Start by setting one little limit. Like...each thing you eat, you must throw away the papers & put the dish by the sink. Do that for several days, and INSIST ON IT or he gets no more to eat. Then, add another thing, like only a little milk. Literally, only have 1 pint of milk in the house. When he finishes it, say, "Sorry, that's all the milk I have. No more till (2 days later)". Then, keep adding a new rule every 2-3 days until he's a nice little kid!!
2007-07-25 19:47:07 · answer #3 · answered by embroidery fan 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Seems like he is more in control of you, than you in control of him. Put your foot down and tell him like it is you are the adult here. At first yes will be rough but then respect will be earned. Take him out to the park or at least a walk anything.
2007-07-25 19:51:28 · answer #4 · answered by Pengy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's your place not his.Plus as high as milk is,tell her to either bring some milk & food or charge her more.I'm like your Mom tell him to hush or he's going to be cleaning.Then if he opens his mouth anymore give him things to do.
2007-07-25 22:07:20 · answer #5 · answered by ejacks48 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell him no and put the milk where he cant see it
2007-07-26 00:45:19 · answer #6 · answered by Stephanie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think you should listen to your mom?
2007-07-25 19:44:22 · answer #7 · answered by BUTTERFLY 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i agree with "embroidery fan".
i'm guessing he's a fat little bugger? Lol. ew.
2007-07-25 20:12:14 · answer #8 · answered by Blah Blah Blah 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋