What a good point! I find that I have to remind my husband (and others) on a regular basis of what I need from them as support.

Good for you for letting him know what you need and how you feel!

He may be trying to test how much power he has. Does he have the power to make Mom eat cookies and blow her diet? He surely has no ill intention - Kids are just facsinated with their own growing abilities and independence.

Show him how to cut up fruit for a fruit salad, and give him the power and ability to help you instead. Tell him you'll pay him a dollar each time he convinces you to go out for a walk when you weren't planning to. Soon, you'll have the best little buddy/advocate possible - and a very cheap personal trainer!

I offered my 14 yo son 50 BUCKS (!) if he could get me to the point where I could jog a mile without stopping. Now, he goes out with me twice a week and encourages me to jog just a little farther each time. It's awesome! (We're still several weeks away from a non-stop mile!)

Gretchen- I love that a great way to bond with your kids. My fondest memories from childhood were taking walks with my mom every night, a great way for us both to exercise and catch up and talk just the two of us.