Re:Picky eaters/Kelsey update

[Guest guest]

Hi Lesli,

Looks like you and I have picky eaters in common too. While my 4 yr old is

quite the food aventurer (likes bamboo shoots, swiss chard, sushi!!),

Kelsey is your basic carbo queen. We've really had to work on table manners

too as it can be not too appetizing sitting across from her as she is

" dissecting " her food to make sure there are no bits of pepper, spices etc.

in the bite she is about to eat! This took on dramatic proportions when

contamination OCD held sway, but is better now.

My compromise is that about half the time I cook what the rest of us like

to eat, making sure there is at least bread or rice available and reminding

myself ahead of time that's what she'll fill up on. I don't cook extra

things for her, unless I'm planning a kid's meal, but fruit is always

available.

In the midst of our contaminated food OCD crisis, she ate tortilla chips

dipped in refried beans mixed with rice (a complete protein!) morning,

noon, and night. Fruit smoothies are great for breakfast and veggies with

dips go over pretty well (ranch dressing, carrots w/hummus). Because she

hates sandwiches, I got a thermos this year to pack leftover spaghetti and

ramen noodles. This seems to be working pretty well.

Update on Kelsey: So far, so good. Had an hour meeting with her new teacher

last night who seems absolutely wonderful. She used to be in special ed and

has an ADHD son so I'm hopeful for sensitivity. I told her that I'm hopeful

OCD won't interfere much this year (the low grade erasing compulsion of the

first two days is already gone) but asked for her help in watching the

social scene as we work in this area as it will really dampen her

enthusiasm for school if this goes bad. She seems to be bonding with her

teacher already, rasing her hand and asking questions so I'm pleased about

that.

She came home all excited yesterday that she had earned 4 stickers for

helping in class and could now cash them in for " a special one-on-one lunch

with the teacher. " Of course, she is lured by the treats the teacher brings

in for these events. It hasn't dawned on her that she'll have to make

conversation, so that will be interesting.

We're still working in therapy on increasing awarenss of others. However, I

think we'll have to back up and work on scrupulosity as this has really

flared. Her hyper sense of fairness exhausts me and it's time to start

" bossing it back " . Sometimes it feels like we've been " backing up " all

summer (false start on the social phobia, then working on environmental

cues, than back to scrupulosity OCD) but I think I've used this time to get

a better understanding of what the true and most important issues are so

hopefully we'll get a head of steam going soon. Plus she is so much better

than last Spring, I must remember to be thankful!

Take care all (and -add my congrats to Tom's success. Hurray! Hurray!

Hurray!),

in San Diego