swings and roundabouts

You know, this blog is more about intention than it is about unqualified success. My son, bless his cotton socks, is very, very good at being Two. And this, by definition, makes him contrary and stubborn, and sometimes utterly unfathomable. Tonight for dinner, I offered him chicken involtini with sweet potato "chips" and the most perfectly buttery ripe Avocado I've ever seen. This is pretty much a plate of his favourite things. He loves chicken, he loves bacon/ham/prosciutto/small goods in general, and you know by now his penchant for apricots. As I explained to him what was on his plate, I was met by an enthusiastic, resounding (and actually very cute), "Yeeeechhhhhh!". I explained to him that these are things he has tried and loved, but no dice. Finally, like many mummies before me, I resorted to threat: "Darling, stay seated at the table and eat. Your. Dinner. Or else, it's straight to bed with you."

What do your think his response was? A shrug of those dear toddler shoulders, a nod of understanding and, "Ok, mama. I go bed." What is the world coming to when a dinner, delicious and cooked wi love (not to mention great ingredients) is snubbed in favour of a one hour early bed time?!

So, Son was dispatched, the involtini reappropriated by me as an early evening snack (yum!) and the Avo and sweet potato were mashed into dinner for my baby. She doesn't have the reservations he did and is tucking in with much satisfaction and gusto.

You know, feeding a toddler is no mean feat, and I so badly want him to grow up with a love for food- good food. But you can never get it perfect. I remember reading a while back that toddlers, when hungry, will eventually eat. The point of the article was that they're better not eat anything than being offered crap to entice them to eat. Zero nutrients being better than truly harmful ones. I don't like him missing a meal, but I have also read that babies and toddlers are generally self-regulating, and they shouldn't be forced to finish a meal until their plate is clean. I don't know...it's tough to work out how to handle a defiant little two year old sometimes...but I know his dinner was absolutely delicious!