ALB: “You dont have to eat anything but you have to eat either a bite of salmon or a spoonful of lentil salad if you want dessert.”
C:(mellodrama high, unfortunately reminding his mother of herself) “I can’t. I can’t do it. What am I going to do? This is terrible.”
ALB:”Well it is your choice. You don’t have to do anything.”
C: “I’ll eat the lentils. Wait, I can’t. I’m afraid. “
ALB:”What is the worst thing that could happen if you eat the lentils?”
C: some laughter
ALB “Will you burst into flames?”
C more laughter
ALB “Will you explode?”
C more laughter
ALB “Will a dragon bite you?”
C laughing, then eating the lentils
“No.”
Ecstatic and relieved that Charlie has eaten the lentils but more importantly that he can laugh at himself and that he has a good sense of humor I decide
to try to push my parenting skills and use some principles I have been trying from parenting books on how to expand your child’s palate.
ALB “I know you didn’t like the lentils but what did they taste like? Were they sweet? Salty? Bitter?”
C “They were gross.”
