Woman At Wits’ End Over ‘Greedy’ Stepdaughter, 7, Who Won’t Stop Eating All Their Fruits

May 12, 2023 by apost team

Users are chiming in on the story of one mother who has found herself in quite a predicament after her husband’s daughter from a previous relationship moved in with them. Apparently, the young child can’t seem to stop herself from emptying out the fridge of fruits, prompting her stepmom to reach out to other moms for advice on how to quell the girl’s fruity cravings.

On May 4, 2023, the mom explained her dilemma on the parenting site Mumsnet. She said she was currently on maternity when her 7-year-old stepdaughter moved in with them earlier the same year in January. The mom said the child’s frequent visits to the fridge for an inordinate amount of fruit were “driving me crazy.”

“We will buy a weekly shop with 2 bunches bananas, few punnets of berries, peaches, melon, grapes, tangerines etc and she will eat her way through the lot in two days. For example, yesterday she ate a punnet and a half of raspberries, three peaches, four tangerines, some grapes, a slice of melon and two bananas,” the mom wrote, and added her behavior had resulted in “a couple of accidents with loose stools.”

Unhappy with how the child was taking so much fruit “from the fridge without asking,” the mom brought the issue up with her husband. She also explained that her husband was currently working part-time and “doesn’t bring in much,” while the child’s biological mother doesn’t contribute at all. The mom said her husband brushed off the issue and said she was “a growing child and at least fruit is good for her.” 

“The amount seems greedy to me, and beyond what is necessary for a healthy child,” the mom asserted and added the child use to gorge on candy but had pivoted to fruits.

In the post, the mom said she wanted her stepdaughter “to learn that food costs money, we don’t have a bottomless pit of it and you don’t just gorge on whatever you want because you are bored/tired/didn’t eat your dinner” before turning to the readers for advice.

Many felt the child’s behavior pointed to emotional turmoil within.

“Poor girl – so many changes in the last few months, new home, new sibling. Is anyone supporting her emotionally?” one user asked, while another said, “This makes me feel quite sad. It sounds like she’s having some issues, bless her. And it also makes me sad that you resent her for it.”

A third user wrote, “She sounds like she’s had quite a traumatic time, so maybe don’t call her greedy eh? It’s comfort eating – she’s just moved from sweets to fruit.”

Others agreed with the mom and urged her to put more stringent rules regarding food in place.

“Why not try having a snack box in the fridge and refilling it every morning. She can help herself to her snacks whenever she likes and learns portion control,” one reader suggested, while another said, “At seven, parents should still be in control of what a child is eating… Place them out of reach. Or don’t buy them for a while.”

“By all means buy cheaper fruit and smaller quantities of it, but don’t withhold or ration – she needs to be able to feel soothed,” another user advised.

Others, however, urged the mom to get her dad more involved.

“That’s a crazy amount, and I’m surprised her dad isn’t stepping in and setting boundaries,” a user said. Another remarked, “Good grief tell him to find more work! You’re paying all the bills for him and his daughter.”

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What are your thoughts on the mom’s dilemma and how would you solve it? Let us know and then pass this along to family and friends to get their take on the issue too.