Though it seems like we barely have time for this little blog these days, we couldn't resist posting a little story for you, which took place at our dinner table last night. First, some crucial notes:
- I (Kelly) made some yummy chili and corn bread. We're the type of people who put cheese on top, but not sour cream or onions. Now you know what was on our table. =)
- Hadley always just eats what we eat. Spicy, bland, good, bad - he is required to eat it, too. It's just easier that way, and he's usually pretty good about it. However, now that's he's getting older, his eyes like to direct his demands on what he would like to eat as well as the order in which he'd like to eat it. (I just don't play these games.)
- In our house, dad and mom make the rules and play by the rules. Here are our "eating rules": start with a small portion of everything on the table... if you finish that you can get seconds on whatever else is left on the table. We're trying to teach Hadley that it's important to try a little bit of everything first, then go for the "good stuff"... whatever that is in his mind (usually more fruit).
Ok, so now that you know how mean of parents we are, here's the story!
I gave Hadley three tiny macaroni noodles and one kidney bean from the chili, knowing his history with chili (he's not a fan) and some cheese. He gobbled up the cheese immediately but then became fussy, letting us know that he would like more cheese and that yummy-looking corn bread that was all the way across the table. I said "no" and told him to finish what was on his plate, then we'd give him some corn bread and cheese.
He's relentless and wouldn't give in. (However, either would we. And we were determined reigning champs in this game.) After about 5 minutes of reminding him that he would get more cheese and some bread if he finished his plate (a whopping three noodles and little kidney bean), he started on the noodles. One by one, he suffered and fought it, making all sorts of adorably, ugly faces that screamed, "GROSS, GROSS, I hate the texture of little noodles." But once he finished that final little noodle, we had a mini party at our dinner table. I helped him wash those slimy things down with his milk and Ray and I clapped and cheered as if he had just done a back flip. (I hope no one was watching us through the windows...).
But still, that daunting kidney bean stared him in the eye... and he was not pleased. He started crying and voiced his concerns. (I think it went something like "NO-NO-NO-NO-Noooooooo!!!!!) He lifted the bean up toward his mouth, then put it back down. Oh baby, you were SO close... just one bean, kid! He wouldn't have it. So again, we reminded him of that sweet, buttery, corn bread on the other side of the table. We even started eating some of it ourselves... telling him of how yummy it tasted.
Now my kid my be strong-willed at times, but he's not dumb. When he saw us enjoying it, it pushed him over the edge. So through the tears and agony, he put that bean up to his lips (once again, hating the initial taste and texture), and our cheering began. "C'mon Hadley, we know you can do it... we WANT to give you corn bread!" His mouth hung wide open, tears rolled down his face and that dark red kidney bean sat right at the bottom of his mouth. Those baby teeth could barely hold it in. But that bean hung on, and so did Hadley. I gave him his milk and told him to drink some to wash it down... he could barely swallow through the tears. But he did it! He chewed that little thing up, knowing that his due reward was waiting for him, his beloved corn bread. So we cheered. And cheered and cheered and cheered. And danced and clapped and sang praises of how wonderful our little son was for accomplishing such a task. He basked in the moment and was rewarded with warm, golden brown corn bread. Slathered with butter... mmm. So worth it, sooo worth it.
*This story is in no way dramatized or exaggerated. Seriously.
Personally, I love my son's crazy, curly hair. But to a young boy who's never seen such outta-control locks it might look, well, like something is wrong with him. =)
