It Ain't Easy Being Green

You might think, given the current politically correct society we live in, that I am referring to protecting the planet. It's very much a trend... again, but not just in regards to waste. Everything you do should be "green". So "they" say. I'm all for living responsibly, but don't you just love it when the burden falls on the common man. So I drink from a water bottle. I recycle it. If it's really going to end the world, "they" should stop making them. Am I alone on this... anyone? Anyway, my original issue with green in our home is none other than the the Green Giant himself-vegetables! Now, I'm the first to admit (and those who know us will concur) that Dan and I don't have the widest food repertoire known to man. Mushrooms, onions and tomatoes don't usually make a showing in their purest state on our table. Although, we do enjoy their flavor in things. I think we both have issues with "chunks" (childish I know, but what are you going to do-at least we found each other) So, in attempting to feed our children, one has to know that we are offering a simpler menu than most. This is why the astonishment. The early signs were babies spitting out green baby food. People said, "Oh, that's just because it's baby food. Once they have finger food it'll be fine." So then, we reached the finger food stage and attempted to dip green veggies in almost anything. No success. So we try to disguise them in casseroles and what do my children do? They take a bite and then magically spit out the green part of the bite. How do they know? It's masked in creamy goodness. So we take parenting classes, research our peers techniques and then flounder our way through meal time. There's the "take as many bites as you are years in age" method. The setting of the timer-always accompanied by the child who watched in anguish as their fate ticked away. The "serve it to them for the next meal" -a personal favorite of mine. Especially when my child would come to the table and announce, "he'd be having this for breakfast". Wait... wasn't this supposed to be taking the control away from the child. How'd he just twist that? And lastly, the humbling admission of "just plain old losing it". I mean really. Eating shouldn't be this hard. I've come to the conclusion, there is no magic formula. Every meal provides new challenges and new discussions. I never know what will trigger what reaction. But what I do know is that I want peace at the table. So, now my precious husband dismisses them to their rooms. Oh they resist, eventually go, and then come back to ask "what they have to do to stay at the table?" "It's easy," we say... "Eat your vegetables!"