You shouldn't give in. You should have rules with of course some flexibility. Food isn't something to battle over. Make one dinner and then offer no more than 2 healthy alternatives. If he refuses the dinner and the alternatives, then no other food or snacks for the night. He will not starve himself. The fact that you and your spouse are easygoing makes it difficult for you to deal with his different personality at times. There are difficulties with even the most easy going little kids. Little ones can be trying. Its that much harder with a spirited child. However, take time to appreciate the strengths of his personality and nurture those. Again, he is very young and with some maturity and time things will likely ease up. Best wishes...
Thanks for your input. I have the book Raising a Spirited child. My husband and I are both easy going people. We are just frustrated that we don't given to our son but these behaviors continue. If he doesn't like what is for lunch or supper he won't eat. He won't wear socks either, he says they itch his feet. He was my mellow boy until he turned 3 then things changed.
he will eventually learn if he does not eat what you make he will go hungry they will give in by next dinner
Your son sounds like a "spirited kid". All of us are born with different kinds of temperments, we don't choose them, we inherit alot of who we are. Naturally, our environments, parents, families, schools, communities and the traumas we experience shape us. Some kids and adults by nature are more easy going, some are more high strung, some are more active, some are less active, some are naturally more happy, some are naturally more pessimistic. Think about your own personality. A great book on this subject in by Mary Kurcinka, the title is "The Spirited Child". I got a copy for a few buck from amazon.com.
You son is young and will likely mature a good bit over the next few years especially in terms of his ability to cope with frustration, social and emotional skills. Is there anything else that you are concerned about?