Real life

13 November 2010

Melissa Kite's Real Life

This is where my lack of knowledge of children leaves me badly exposed. I know how long a horse can go before needing food and water but I haven’t a clue what the fuelling logistics are for a large adolescent. How long did I have before he collapsed and I got prosecuted? In the end, he finished mucking out, then rode for two hours, then got off the horse and stood lingering by the tea room watching everyone else stuffing their faces with cakes and biscuits.

Whereupon I pulled some sandwiches I had brought with me from my handbag and presented him with an ultimatum. ‘If you don’t eat I’m going to cry.’ He took the sandwich and nibbled a tiny bit of it but didn’t do anything like eat it.

Then salvation came, or so I thought. The yard owner lit the barbecue and started cooking burgers. Surely my problems were over now. When the first ones were sizzling, I attempted to push him towards the serving table, but he said ‘no thanks’ with a disconsolate shrug.

This was too much. ‘Burger!’ I exclaimed, like a mad woman. ‘B-u-r-g...’ and I actually started to spell it out. ‘Not hungry.’ Shrug.

I looked over at my horses with a new-found gratitude. There they stood, happily munching their hay, wrapped up in their Newmarket rugs. I know they give me hassle sometimes, but they’re good kids, really.

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Minigee

November 20th, 2010 7:12am Report this comment

Melissa, you came at this from the wrong angle. You only bother persuading younger children to eat and wear coats. With teenagers you don't mention food or warm clothing. You simply make it available and walk away saying nothing, a bit like feeding wildlife. The correct approach would have been to leave an old overcoat and a packet of buns in some conspicuous place and then just carry on with your day at the stables. The teenager would then have quietly sneaked the food when you were not looking, and perhaps even put the coat on during the coldest part of the day.

ShadowL

December 9th, 2010 12:24am Report this comment

up until they were about 5, i had the same arguments with my boys, but with the addition of using the bathroom. Now the argument is again "put on a coat" but also "take a shower" I wish I could stop them from eating so much these days.

just always bring an extra coat and food, they come home when they get cold and hungry. (or they have to pee)

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