Input from a dad
When I left Nurse Ratched I left behind a house full of junk food. Being on my own I bought a little of it, but not much- I couldn't afford it.

When I got settled into an apartmentI thought about it. My mom always said that the reason we never had junk food such as crisps in our house is that if it was there we'd eat it- and as she was always dieting, that was a problem for her. But for me it opened up a new thought: if it isn't there, then I can teach the kids to appreciate healthier foods. And so it was, and so it is now.

As for the way your girlfriend is using the junk food to stave off bad behavior- horseshit. If she can't control her children without bribery, she's not doing her job as a parent. I have NEVER resorted to bribery- if they misbehaved they were punished, if they behaved then all was happy and placid. What she's doing is rewarding bad behavior- if they don't get their junk food they give her shit until she gives it to them. VERY bad message to send to them- that they just need to be awful to get what they want. She needs to grow a firmer spine and lay down the law.

Good luck. And if she refuses to stop feeding them junk food... well, I suppose you'll have a decision to make.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 13 Oct 2008, 12:17, Reply)