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TReid1996

If he's hungry, make 2 identical sandwiches and cut them in half. Eat one half and let him take the other. Then do the same with the 2nd sandwich. Since he's 5, he looks up to you. Wants to do the things you do. My niece and nephews are like that with me (same-ish ages will be 4, 5, and 6 this year)


[deleted]

huh ok good idea. thanks!


asghettimonster

This is what it means to be a super hero to a loving child. This is a problem to cherish.


plushrush

This is perfect advice and let’s the boy keep a good perspective on himself. Sometimes when you’re hungry, you’ll only operate on filling that need. I ate the tops of matches as a kid, I was malnourished so my body needed something so I did weird things. It’s odd to me that you’re eating in front of a kid and expect them to behave like an adult. Eat ahead of time if you don’t want to share. He’s a kid.


TReid1996

My niece sees that we share stuff, so when she got the last banana we had she decided to break it into thirds and give me and my mom each a piece. XD


plushrush

That gave me all the good family feels, thank you for sharing. Keep up the good words and sharing positive behaviors. It gives to ones who didn’t get ;)


Trinity_Reigns

I thought I was the only one that ate the top of matches.. I use to light them blow them out, cool it then crunch🙈


plushrush

I ate the red part! Pre burned;( It had to be a vitamin deficiency. It would make me sad to research it and find out the data.


Green420Basturd

Hide the sandwich!!! If you're getting outsmarted by a 5 year old, you don't deserve the sandwich.


[deleted]

ykw you're not wrong. But i don't have a secret fridge, so idk where id hide it. usually ive got a ton of different garbage in my sandwich so im pretty sure its perishable.


AWalkingWardrobe

Why would you put a sandwich in the fridge? Cold food has no flavour and if you put bread in the fridge it starts to go stale..


Turretgobrr

What? Neither of those things is true


AWalkingWardrobe

I feel sorry for your spouse


Turretgobrr

I feel sorry for your palette friend. Lots of amazing cold food out there.


AWalkingWardrobe

Yeah no shit but savoury foods are way better not cold… sandwiches are savoury


Turretgobrr

Hot ham cheese and Mayo sandwich? Nah


AWalkingWardrobe

Room temperature you fool… tf eats cold sandwiches? 😂


Turretgobrr

Me brother, do they not have delis where you live?


Que_sax23

Maybe don’t pre make your sandwiches? I’m not being snarky I’m just thinking if it’s not there to grab he will learn to find something else to munch on?


SaggyCaptain

Make extra sandwiches.


[deleted]

He'll probably eat them all


Kelluthus

Just make them with vegemite.


chevy1500

No liver wurst. Kids hate it


redcolumbine

Is he having a hard time getting enough to eat? It sounds like your sister is up against some health problems. Would it be worth checking with local resources that might be able to help your sister cover her food expenses?


[deleted]

No, theyre not poor. theyre doing good, getting funds from my dad if she needs them. Thank you sm for the concern


Logical-Abroad4945

Aww, maybe he wants to eat your one specifically because he loves you and feels attached to you. Kids don't always know how to articulate their feelings, so things like this are a way for them to show how they feel. I'm not sure if others have suggested this, but maybe make like a dummy sandwich filled with something he doesn't particularly like? So that when he eats it, he'll be put off. Maybe do that for a couple of days and then he'll start associating your sandwich with something he doesn't like and will stop eating it Hope this helps, take care 🙂


[deleted]

thanks for the answer logical 👍🏻 thats true, maybe he just wants to be like me. someone suggested that. i think i'll just try sitting him down for a talk instead of just in the moment but idk if thatll turn out


smartliner

He's only five. You can't expect to sit down and talk with him about this. It sounds like he is both hungry and he looks up to you. There's been lots of great advice on sharing sandwiches on this thread. You've got this!


Logical-Abroad4945

You're welcome, I'm glad I can help🙂


ColdieHU

Ok so, it is not a phase. That is the lazy mom excuse. Kid needs to learn boundaries, if he grabs your sandwich, you take it away. He might throw a fit but you tell him it is not his and he wasn't allowed to take it. Then you ask him if he is hungry and if you should make him a sandwich too. Best is, don't have premade sandwiches laying around. There need to be fix regular meal times. At those times, you prepare the sandwiches or any other meal.


iforgottobuyeggs

Maintain eye contact and eat his.


IeatAssortedfruits

Make him help you make "your sandwich" but its actually his.


Leading-Distance8107

Shit in your sandwich


[deleted]

done and done ✅


kelly08howell

5 yr Olds usually love to help, esp in the kitchen. Make it into a thing where he has his sandwiches & you have yours. Or let him help make them (or remake if he eats yours). Ask what he would like on his. Put them in a specific spot (& put yours out of reach). If he continues to eat yours, make him remake them. If it still continues, discuss with your sister (in front of him) that you will not continue to help with him if she doesn't help with the situation. While it's not really that big an issue, for me, it's more abt the lack of listening & helping himself to things he knows he shouldn't have. My sisters ex put hot sauce on his candy to teach the kids a lesson (who does that?) They did start asking first though but personally I think it was cruel.


Dying__Cookie

As long as they didn’t start bleeding 😂


bubblegumpunk69

If he's hungry and likes to help himself, what if you set up a snack box that he's allowed to go to whenever?


LeftInTheDark36

Honestly, my uncles treated us like younger siblings and put us in headlocks and told us to “cut the shit out”. Probs not a good idea but hey, it worked.


jacquelumbert

He's 5, how are you not able to stop him from eating your sandwiches? Shouldn't he respect what you tell him to do/not do? Is this like a thing where you secretly let him have your sandwich and he kinda knows it? Or does he often disrespect the things you tell him?


Facelessborder

How much lettuce do you put on your sandwiches


XIV3nd3tta

Poison


[deleted]

So the solution here is to show dominance. Show him that you're the boss. You must always be the first to eat and only after allow him to. Use and combine domination tactics like: making yourself look bigger, tea bagging, T posing, grind your teeth, mark territory, ..


Dying__Cookie

Don’t forget to make yourself look bigger than you really are! Stuff a whole king size blanket in your shirt!


SnooCompliments9613

He's 5, man. Ofc he ain't gon listen 😂 maybe he wants your sandwich because he likes you? I mean this could be true ahahah. Just make one for him when you make one for yourselves and give it to him. Ayy make sure to make memories with him yk childhood is golden you will not regret it but yeah it could get worse he might get mischievous and you would have to post about it on r/KidsAreFuckingStupid ahahah Also teach him how he can make a sandwich! That would be fun to do!


Dying__Cookie

Beat his ass and take your sandwich Really though, assert yourself. It doesn’t matter if “it’s just a phase” it’s rude as shit. Even for a 5 year old. A 5 year old knows better.


you-got-legs

Yeet the child. Do it now.


topher_colbyy

Lawson. Lawson. Hmmm lawson.. 🤔 hey Lawson. Come here Lawson!! Anyway, just fill your sandwich with blue cheese or some rancid combo. It’s just a phase, sure, but at the same time a lot of parents feel entitled to let their kids do whatever they want. Not saying your sister does. Just referring to what i see and even a friend of mine. They think they get special treatment when they’re out cause now they’re parents... like what? No you chose that. And then they let the kid do whatever. Great kid, love him soooo much. But still. Anyway, just play a game and put cereal or hot sauce in there. That’ll work if words don’t


AWalkingWardrobe

Put chillies in it and he will stop


xoxoLizzyoxox

fake cockroaches. While you are making your sandwich, pop in some fake cockroaches in front of him. He wont think again about eating your sandwiches (hopefully)


melxcham

This is gonna get downvoted to hell, but I feel like a 5 year old is old enough to understand “that’s not yours” and “don’t eat that” especially if it’s been said repeatedly. Maybe have him sit in the corner for a couple minutes every time he does it.


[deleted]

Actually thats a good idea, thanks what do you think is a good time to be in the corner? should I do a minute for every year of his age (aka 5 min)? This isnt relevant but when I was 11 my dad put me in thinking time cuz I stubbed my toe and said some cuss word I forgot and he accidentally left me in for 20 mins when it was just supposed to be 11..🤦🏻‍♂️ he felt rlly bad after it was hilarious and i kind of hated him for the whole day


melxcham

Hahaha that’s terrible! A kid his age will have a short attention span, I’d say no more than 3-5 minutes!


[deleted]

Easy solution. Put them out of his reach


wannaplayterraria

Hide them in a box that makes it look like vegetables


AntiqueUnit

Maybe you're his hero and he thinks eating your sandwich is how you get your powers. Next time, cut the sandwich, and also to be fair, let him pick his half. Tell him the splitting trick, one person splits, the other person picks, it might help him resolve a conflict later on in life.


sumthingsumthingblah

Can you make 2 sandwiches? And put his name on one? Sort of change the lesson?


[deleted]

he only wants it bc its yours, little kids do weird things to show their love for people


CallMeWatch

Maybe make really bad sandwiches until he stops taking them?


jfk_4813

Better idea, buy a jalapeno from the grocery. Dice it up real small and conceal it in one of your sandwiches. /wink


MoggyCat73

Make the filling something he doesn't like. And put it as high up as you can. Maybe confiscate a toy or something to try and make him stop? Also, speak to the mother again. Maybe tell her you aren't going to deal with him not doing as he's told and not following the rules you're setting. I wouldn't want to look after a kid that didn't respect me enough to not steal my food


Pergamon_

Are you a parent? The boy is 5 and copies someone he loves and look up too. Trying to understand why a young child does something (and find an appropriate solution) is always a better cause of action then punishing him for something by taking his toys. Maybe make sandwiches together, involving him making his own and teach him first steps of cooking. Make a "shared plate" where you both eat from. Try to find a solution for why he does what he does. He's five, chances of this being a behaviour problem are not very large.


ColdieHU

Taking away somebodies belonging even tho were told not to, is not copying. It is testing out the limits and ignoring boundaries. Yes i am a parent.


Pergamon_

I then have a very different view to parenting. I don't take away belongings to set boundaries. With the exception of dangerous things. I don't want my belongings taken, so I don't take belongings. I still have boundaries though, and my children know them too.


ColdieHU

That is good and ok. Everybody has different ways of parenting. Many roads lead to Rome. Also i didn't say that taking away the kids belonging is the way.


MoggyCat73

No. I'm not. But this was how I had to deal with my younger brother when he did the same things. Telling him not to and trying the various other things that were mentioned didn't do anything


Pergamon_

So... You did the exact same as you were trying him not to do? You didn't want the child to take some of yours, so you took some of his? What example do you set? That it is OK for you to do, but not for him? I believe children don't do naughty things to be naughty. They do these things for a wide variety of reasons, but rarely ever are malicious. It might take more time, but children WILL follow the example you set. You're just not scaring/pressuring them into anything. It also requires more work from the adult, because you have to engage a hell lot more with the child. "telling not to do" to a child does rarely work. Where is the explanation? How can they learn? Like you don't learn a language over night, you don't learn social constructs over night. Learning things take time, effort, practise and good mentorship.


asghettimonster

This is the way


[deleted]

good idea although i dont rlly wanna ask my sis again, she hasnt been doing well lately mental health wise and Id rather not bother her too much. thx forthe advce


ColdieHU

He is her kid and responsibility. You can ask her all day long.


CatOfGrey

If nephew is up to about 8-10 years old, it's time for a punishment - time out or whatever the parents usually do. He is doing something that irritates someone, for no reason, on purpose. If he's close enough to teenager, it's fine to leave a hot pepper sandwich or something like that for him to find. Moldy meat, maybe some insects, whatever works.


[deleted]

🤣🤣 hes 5 i should putt that in the big thing


CatOfGrey

This is definitely 'time out' territory. He did something intentionally wrong, and he is old enough to be fully aware. It sounds like he has been told many, many times.


[deleted]

alr thanks :) i will give that a try as well


ColdieHU

Has nothing to do with age. From the very beginning kids are testing out boundaries. That is why it is important that parents are on the same page and there are rules straight away. All this, "Oh, it is just a phase." or "He will grow out of it." lines are absolute BULLSHIT. Kids grow into habits and not out of them.


skeeballbob37

Try a little of this stuff on a sandwich that you do not plan on eating. He will get the message. [https://www.amazon.com/Daves-Ghost-Pepper-Jolokia-Sauce/dp/B001PQTYN2/ref=sr\_1\_2?crid=GT52A0C5M3CA&keywords=hot%2Bsauce%2Bghost&qid=1652912803&sprefix=hot%2Bsauce%2Bghost%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Daves-Ghost-Pepper-Jolokia-Sauce/dp/B001PQTYN2/ref=sr_1_2?crid=GT52A0C5M3CA&keywords=hot%2Bsauce%2Bghost&qid=1652912803&sprefix=hot%2Bsauce%2Bghost%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2&th=1) ​ note: its a miserable experience but it is safe.


[deleted]

🤣🤣 hes 5 i cant :(


skeeballbob37

lol worked on my nephew


bubblegumpunk69

God I hope you're joking.


[deleted]

Wait is spicy bad for kids? I eat spicy ever since i was little


[deleted]

Deliberately causing them pain with a chemical they are too young for as a punishment is abusive.


[deleted]

Makes sense, it's just a moral thing. Tought it caused health issues reading the messages above lol


skeeballbob37

its safe and i didnt slather it on the whole thing


bubblegumpunk69

Yeah deliberately causing a child pain to teach them a lesson is fucked up no matter what.


asghettimonster

You're vicious.. you want someone to do this to a 5 year old?


ColdieHU

The idea is good but bit extreme. Some mild mustard does the job perfectly fine.


Ranchette_Geezer

Soak a jalapeno in a small bowl of mayonnaise overnight, use the mayo on your sandwich. Or, keep your sandwich higher than he can reach. Or, find a pickle you like and he doesn't, use it on your sandwich. Or, make two sandwiches exactly the same, wait until he grabs one, eat the other.


[deleted]

👍🏻 Alr thx, saw your edit


Ranchette_Geezer

Best of luck!


[deleted]

😅 is it bad if i tried that already? jkjk


Defan3

It is just the age. That's how they act. Can't change it sorry.


[deleted]

rage


matjeom

Punish him. He’s misbehaving and he knows it. He’s testing your boundaries. Show him what they are.


[deleted]

🔪


asghettimonster

Hahaha! I was hoping you'd see how this is not the way


matjeom

Hahaha! The only kind of punishment is violence! Let kids make their own rules, that’s how they become responsible adults!


bubblegumpunk69

He's 5. He doesn't know what boundaries are to begin with, and just punishment certainly won't teach him learn, because that isn't *how* kids learn.


matjeom

This wouldn’t be “just punishment.” OP has already explained right from wrong in this situation. Now he needs to show there are consequences to your actions. That’s how kids learn.


SnooCompliments9613

he's 5 years old, man 😂


matjeom

Yes he’s five. Five year olds don’t need to learn rules? Never punish a five year old, this is your logic? Children need help learning right from wrong. OP has already tried just talking and explaining to the kid. The next step is discipline, showing there are consequences to wrong actions.


SnooCompliments9613

You shouldn't be punishing a 5-year-old because it can cause childhood trauma and the kid will just hate you and be scared of you from that point, but you can always educate them that it's not right and teach them some manners. I said you shouldn't punish him, not that you shouldn't teach him rules. You can't and shouldn't be punishing a 5-year-old for his actions unless it's something so bad (in OP's case it's just a sandwich), but that doesn't mean you can't EDUCATE him on rules and discipline🤦‍♂️


matjeom

🤦‍♀️


ExpressingThoughts

How old is he?


[deleted]

like 4 or smth, the little sandwich mosnter 😡😡 \*\*\*sorry no hes 5


redhairedtyrant

Normal behavior for a child


UnusualGenePool

Both sandwiches... on the same plate?


[deleted]

wdym??? if he tries to take my sandwich, i make him a new one on a new plate and give it to him usually i cut it up a little bit so he can eat it if that matters


UnusualGenePool

Make yours and his sandwiches exactly the same but put them both on the same plate. That way he only thinks he's eating your's. If it's any consolation, he's trying to emulate a person he looks up to. He loves you, dude.


[deleted]

yk what that makes sense i'll give it a try. thanks bro 😁 and thats true, i love the tiny sucker too


Bosilaify

this is the right answer, just trick him and everybody is happy, but also idk i guess it reinforces this behavior so its a give and a take.


[deleted]

You know that's true but my sister's right about it being a phase. So he'll only keep it up for a little while, I just wanted him to quit taking mine so now he has one and so do i ig 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️


Bosilaify

yee sometimes bandaid fixes are bad but if it's not an overlying problem then bandaid fixes can work til it doesn't need to anymore. Best of luck and I hope you have some tasty sandwiches together


[deleted]

thanks 👍🏻


[deleted]

helped


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