Murphy's Law and mountains to die on

So, I had to run the children to piano lessons this afternoon. I threw my hair in a bun clip, no make-up & old jumper and out the door I went...so housewife, not thinking I'd leave my truck. But I passed by this quaint antique store in downtown Lynden and it called my name. Maybe this time it would have that wall oil lamp I have been watching for? I ran in and had a look-see...no lamp. Happily, I did not see anyone I knew...this is Lynden after all...remember the joke? I am related to most of them and unfortunately that is true...I am. I was walking the sidewalk back to my truck when two young men approached, and I immediately recognized one as Caleb Breakey from church...a writer for the Lynden Tribune. Oh NO. The young man approaches and I find myself being interviewed for their *talk on the street* type of article for the newspaper. Crud. And Caleb took pictures of me with a bun. A BUN, and my bad side at that. Not that I am vain...hmmm...o.k., maybe a little but I am dreading that paper. Maybe they will find my statement boring and not post the pic? Tomorrow will tell.

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Gracie, 15 months, is giving us glimpses of her sinful little heart. Unfortunately we knew she was born with this defect and there is nothing we can do to cure it. But we can work with it. She has been refusing to eat certain foods at the dinner table, then begging crackers after dinner. I have allowed(therefore trained) her to do this by GIVING her crackers after dinner. Well, tonight Daddy saw through it and put his foot down... thank you Daddy, I can be a weak one sometimes!





I offered Gracie banana, she ate it. Brussles sprouts, she ate them. Offered bites of my stew and she refused to touch the stuff...no matter what lay in the spoon. I told her in my sweetest mommy voice that she needs to eat her carrot(that is what my spoon pulled out of the stew) Gracie said/yelled "No! No!" Yes, like most children born with this birth defect, this is one of their first three words. I cut the little round carrot slice in three little triangles and lay it on her tray and told her if she wants her brownie for dessert, she must eat the carrot. She understood and reached for the brownie...I put the carrot up to her mouth and she pushed it away and said/yelled No! No! No! No!". Daddy said "This is a mountain worth dying on" & I grabbed my camera!! I have done this with five children before and when Daddy says he ain't giving in, he means it.

One stubborn ticked off little 15 month old. She was being doted on by me who hates to see her so upset, but then again she only yelled when you mentioned the word "carrot". She cried and cried and cried.

Do I need to explain what is being said and what she is doing with her hand? I think not.

Many minutes went by, like 20, and suddenly the lightbuld went on, she realized she was stuck in that chair until she ate her carrot and she picked one up and put it in her mouth with NO persuasion! I don't think we have had that happen that easily before.

But then again, we haven't had this large of a crowd of onlookers before either! We all clapped and with that she threw the other two pieces of carrot in her

mouth and ate'em up!

The room erupted in cheering and she was very proud...as was her Daddy.

MMMMmmmmm. And that brownie was worth it all........

And this is how you train your children not to be picky eaters.