Definitely spoiling. I was taught that I had to eat what was on the table and sit there until it was gone. If we didn't like it we went hungry. My younger sister was spoiled though, and my parents would give in to her "so she wouldn't starve."

Gives them an unrealistic view on life.

Ha If I was your mother and by the time your brother was 16, I would have told him if he doesn't like what is served, get a job and get it himself. Or fix his food himself. Either way.

That's the way I would handle it.

As a parent one has to learn to pick your battles. As long as there is no apparent reason for the behavior, why fighting. There are bigger battles a head!

Sometimes the fuss is too much. Maybe some parents give in to avoid a headache.

Yes I think it's spoiling them. My parents didn't do that.

My parents never did when we were growing up, we ate what was served. They maintained that if we got hungry enough we wouldn’t be picky, and that seems to have been so.

Ironically, these are the same people that as grandparents cater to my niece (who with her mother lives with them) and let her eat whatever she wants. 😏

I don’t think kids should be forced to eat things that they have tried and genuinely don’t like. But tantrums at table should not be tolerated. Sit still and behave or get a spanking, in my opinion.