Squiddlioni

Like many respondents on this decorporatized FOSS wang-dang-doodle, my answer is some variation on “Linux for desktop/laptop unless I’m forced to use the W-word” and “Whichever mobile OS makes the browser happen while I’m away from Linux, but I’m sad that it’s not Linux”.

That’s entirely fair. My kid’s aversions are mostly about familiarity and not about flavor or texture, or random whim. What we did ended up working out, but you’re right that it isn’t necessarily going to be the case with every kid, and I probably shouldn’t have implied that it was the “right” thing to do. It was certainly lucky, but as with many parenting strategies, that it worked with my kid doesn’t mean it would work with others.

Yes, posted in a parenting community, where discussing parenting is presumably fair game. It’s a relatable experience, but as the parent of a kid with involuntary food aversions, who grew up with family members getting into screaming matches over kids not trying food at holidays every year, I thought it was worth raising that this isn’t always within a child’s control.

Not quite sure what you were hoping to accomplish with this comment. My kid mainly eats broccoli, tomatoes, berries, rice, eggs, carrots, tofu, beets, beans, fish, and spinach. We’ve recently convinced him to eat french fries, chicken nuggets, pepperoni, and noodles. We knew pickiness was possible so we very carefully chose which foods to expose him to from a very young age so his default comfort zone was healthy food. If he has trouble trying new french fries I think it’s reasonable to accept that he has a legitimate aversion that he doesn’t control.

Yes, but it’s also important to remember that this is universally recognized because it’s a common aspect of preadolescent brains. I know this is just a comic, but I’ve seen a lot of parents treat it like willful belligerence (and sometimes it might be), but that’s not necessarily accurate or constructive. Kids don’t choose that their brain makes them prefer certain things and have a visceral aversion to new foods. Some kids can be encouraged to try things and will enjoy them once they’ve tried them, but some kids just can’t do it until their brain is more developed and the disgust reaction to new food dampens.

It’s an extreme example, but I’ve watched my kid try to force himself to eat something because I asked him to try it and he was literally shaking and dry heaving trying to put it in his mouth. IIRC it was a french fry that was shaped differently than the ones he usually eats. Like I said, extreme example, but kid brains are legit wired differently when it comes to food, and that should be respected.

AIn’ts