Answers and Solutions

I simply cannot thank you all enough for your responses to my last post. No, seriously. Because sometimes you get so entrenched in a point of view, and then you listen to other points of view and realize, hey, that could work, too! And it's so simple!

First, a couple of answers to questions your all raised:

Susanna, I wrote that about not wanting people who don't know Em not to get a negative impression of her, because I was about to detail the fact that she's been lying and sneaking, and I wanted to be clear that that's not how she usually is, and also that that's why I'm so concerned about it.

Ambre, Baroy may be a 'challange' in many ways, but actually, he's not a junk-food eater. He is, on the other hand, a nosher (for those not fluent in bastardized Yiddish, that means a snacker), and that's why the idea that I've decided to adopt is so perfect for us. Because, before, I had these rules for the kids that they saw their father flagrantly disregard; now, I'll be able to make it all mesh.

Oh, and I did get a big laugh out of this. When I forwarded Baroy the comments so that he could see why I was about to do a 180 on the house rules, he got all mock-offended at you saying he was a snacker (remember, this is Body Dysmorphic Boy), and said, "Hey, she can't blame me for the sweeet tooth. Now, if Em had a scotch problem..." Hee!

So here's what I've decided to do. I'm bowing down at your collective feet, and have already emptied a drawer and filled it with the healthy snack foods in the house. I then made sure the fruit basket was full, and put it on the table. And then I peeled carrots and cut up other veggies, and put them in the crisper in my fridge. And when I bring Em home (in about ten minutes), and later when N comes home, I will show these to them, and tell them that they are welcome to eat any of it, and as much of it, as they want, and they do not have to ask, and it doesn't have to be at any specific time. (I am, however, going to hold firm on the "no food in front of the TV excpet on special occasions rule, because I believe in it.)

So, there you go. You've given me hope, and possibly saved my child from a lifetime of eating disorders. Don't you feel all warm and fuzzy and good about yourself? Well, you should.

Seriously. Thanks. I'll let y'all know how it's going once it really gets going...