NO NASTY

Are there foods you just HATE? I don't like to use the word "hate" even though I thought it everytime I saw beets or apple rings on my lunch tray during my school years. I realize beets are all the rage now, but I just cannot eat them. All kids go through phases where they only want to eat certain foods. In the past I've had someone I know tell me her kid only eats McDonald's Chicken Nuggets?


My husband and I have always taken our children to events. We expect them to be on their best behavior as people don't want children around if they can't behave- tough to hear, but it is true. You should hear them talk! I'm not saying my children have perfect manners, but they have manners and we are working on perfection- Ha!

One of the best rules my hubby and I ever enforced was the "NO NASTY" rule. In other words, you cannot identify any food as "NASTY". Another rule is you must taste a food before you decide you don't like it. This evening I cooked baked apricots. I put a very small amount on the children's plates and only expected them to take one bite. Neither of the children had ever eaten an apricot so both tasted it. My son, the oldest is very wise and commented "not bad", but he did not pig out. My daughter tasted the apricots and simply responded "no thank you" when I asked if she would like anymore. We have always suggested they reply "no thank you" if someone offers something they don't like to eat.

My daughter (weird kid) really dislikes peanut butter. Last year at a wedding shower at church, the ladies hosting served homemade Buckeye Balls (peanut butter balls coated in chocolate)- rich and delicious. My daughter insisted on having one even though I told her the inside was peanut butter. I was chatting with some other ladies when I looked down and noticed the Buckeye Ball on her plate was gone. I asked my daughter if she ate it and all she would say was "no thank you". I realized on this day we are raising a little lady. Eventually I noticed it carefully and discretely wrapped in her little cocktail napkin.

Manners do not come without lots of teaching. My hubby and I use dinner time as a time to teach good manners. I hope my children will get return invites when they visit the homes of friends. Now if I could get them to not lick their fingers, but this is going to be a real problem with Doritos promoting it during the Super Bowl. As for that kid eating only chicken nuggets - he ate anything I put in front of him, but I wasn't willing to go to McDonalds like his mom.

My favorite advice on parenting- You must decide you are more determined than your children if you want to change their behavior. Good gosh, it takes lots of patience and prayers, but it is worth all the effort when the behavior changes. Gotta run so I can rest up for the next parenting challenge.