The Human Garbage Disposal

Why is it that as mothers some of us are the garbage disposal to our children’s leftover food? I’m not just the human garbage disposal for one child but two! I don’t want to waste the leftover food I see on two plates for several reasons.

First, as a working mom, I still manage to come home to prepare a home-cooked dinner so my boys can enjoy a healthy, nutritious meal. When they decide to not eat what’s on their plate, I don’t want to waste the food. Second, many people live in third world countries with very little to no food to eat I begin to feel guilty that we are blessed to the degree of abundance in our pantry and grocery stores. (I think this thought stems from early childhood when my mother used to tell me this.) Lastly, food is money. I work hard each day to earn money to buy things for us. Although food is not a luxury in our home, I still envision the leftover food as wasted money gone down the drain, literally. Well, depends on which drain your thinking about. LOL

I’m trying to think and do things differently to change this poor habit. I encourage Jonathan and David to try new foods in wee portions to not waste the serving if they don’t like it. I also serve them smaller portions. I can always serve them more and they usually ask for more of the staple foods they enjoy. I am also trying to change my thinking and realize that I do not have to be the garbage disposal or the drain from which the food is eliminated. I don’t need to feel guilty about not eating everything on our plate–just try to serve a little less, maybe even make room for the cupcake I so enjoy. Hopefully, less will also translate to fewer calories, petite waistline, and smaller dress size. We can all hope, right?

Guiding Lesson: Eve, I agree that the world does appear to be unbalanced with those that have an overabundance and those that don’t.  When you think about how mothers and fathers deal with having to see their children go to bed hungry day in and day out, doesn’t seem quite fair.  You wonder what needs to change for all of humanity to share in the blessings so no little mouth is left unfed. There has to be a solution.  Maybe one day.

Well, the image of being a human garbage disposal is comical.  Can you imagine what you would look like if someone drew a cartoon of you as your boys are shoving food into your mouth?  It kind of makes you think about how mothers evolve from milking cows, to human garbage disposals to whatever other glamorous image is waiting for you in the near future.

I’m glad you want to reinvent yourself and take on a more dignified persona.  Garbage disposal does not quite suit you.  As you begin to figure out what you need to do to transition from this role, ask yourself if you have been any other type of garbage disposal for other people in your life?

Have you been so low maintenance that others have pushed their emotions, challenges, financial issues upon you and wanting you to absorb their concerns for them?  If yes, what need are you fulfilling by allowing this either within yourself or for others?  Do you do it so they don’t have to taste something they don’t like?  Is there a gift you have been given such as generosity, advocacy, etc. that others have taken advantage of, leaving nothing for yourself?

I ask these questions so that you can determine what is the root cause so that you don’t just let go of this image as it relates to food, but you discard it from all other areas where this has potential to rise.

You have so much to offer.  Don’t let it go to waste and “cast pearls amongst swine.”  Know who you are in the eyes of God so that you can be confident to not allow yourself to be someone who takes away other people’s waste.  You are a vessel meant to be filled with abundance of blessings and graces not a garbage disposal for what others don’t want.  Girl, you got to R.E.S.P.E.C.T. yourself as the great Aretha Franklin said.  And I say AMEN to that.  Maybe you should listen to it.

Grace

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