they're not starving - i hope

Okay, here's my question.

I have three kids of my own, ages 1, 2 and 4. I babysit another boy (he's 5) from 11:30am until late afternoon. They eat rather well at lunch. They'll scarf down sandwich after sandwich. I let them keep going until they run out of steam. Yesterday the two older ones at multiple fried egg sandwiches and scoop after scoop of kraft dinner. Then Tennyson asked for an orange. I gave them all oranges. After the first orange, they proceeded to beg for more oranges.

I'm pretty sure they weren't still hungry.

I said no.

Do you think it's mean to cut them off? Because I know they could sit and eat half a box of oranges without actually being hungry for them. It's like cake - I could eat loads of cake. It's not about being hungry.

Opinions?

Comments

Lora said…
Jake goes through this too.
When he has had (in my opinion) too much of one thing and still says he is hungry, I tell him he can have oatmeal. If he's truly hungry he eats it (he doesn't love it). If not, he goes and plays.
December 9, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Q&L said…
I love mandarins... when I was younger, my Mom always rationed them with us. Not sure if it was 'cause she's scared of us getting the runs or b/c of the food budget. When we went to my grandparents I'd go nuts with the mandarins and give myself the runs, but they're SO tasty.
December 14, 2009 at 4:11 PM
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