Amidst endless hum of parenting advice, stumbling upon a universal truth is rare. But sometimes an unexpected sounding board enters the chat and cuts through the noise. In these rare moments, we find value and needed wisdom.
I found this rare moment of truth when I heard these words from Dr. Gordon Neufeld.
"Children do not experience our intentions, no matter how heartfelt. They experience what we manifest in our tone and behaviour."
As parents, our hearts brim with the best intentions, especially when it comes to mealtime.
Most of us envision our children thriving and developingadventurous eating habits. However, the juncture between our intentions and our child’s experiences is built not just with what we say, but how we say it. If the atmosphere at the dining table is laden with our unspoken worries and frustrations, mealtime can become a spiraling canvas where our child holds flecks of worry, disordered self-image, and a strained relationship with food.
Our children are keen observers, absorbing more from our non-verbal cues than the words we speak. A tense posture, a hurried tone, or an impatient sigh can unwittingly set the stage for a stressful meal.
Mealtime should be a sanctuary, not a battleground. A place where nourishment of body and mind is interwoven with enjoyment and, most importantly, connection. It should be a place where each bite is an offer to learn and grow, rather than a demand to just finish the broccoli.
How do we, as parents, transform these moments?
It begins with a shift in our perspective, recognising that our approach, our tone, and our demeanor are the ingredients that flavour our child’s meals.
If your mealtimes are filled with frustrated pleading of a desperate parent — finish this broccoli, I am going to be late for work — perhaps it’s time to try a new tactic.
Take a deep breath and imagine with me.
Imagine your mealtimes are infused with a gentle, playful, and understanding tone. Everyone sits in calm the safety of a shared moment.
In this space, dinner can be a setting where a child’s reluctance to try new foods is met not with exasperation, but with patience and a connection-focused nudge. In this space, children feel respected, their preferences are honoured, and they are taught the importance of autonomy.
This is not merely about eating, it’s about cultivating an authentic, trusting relationship with food and connecting with the other people at the table.
Sounds great, doesn’t it.
Also kinda sounds impossible, right?
You are probably yellling at the computer screen right now. How?!
How do I go from hostage negotiation — finish the broccoli and I will give you ice cream — to this blissful dream?
Keep reading to find out.
Contrast this with a calm, nurturing environment where smiles, encouragement, and a relaxed pace invite curiosity and experimentation with food, effectively holding space for both successful and not-so-successful dining experiences (it happens to all of us). It's important to recognise that even less “successful” meals don't negate the growth and the learning that occurs in the process.
Remember, in the art of parenting, there are no rigid rules, rather a focus on authenticity, attachment, and connection. None of us will be able to get it right every time — that IS a universal truth— but so long as you keep going, you’re already doing great.
Trust your intuition, lean on the wisdom and words of those who have done the work before, and embrace each meal as an opportunity to connect, teach, and love. By doing so, we nourish not just our children’s bodies, but also their hearts and minds.