I’m sitting here tonight watching my little boy eat his dinner. I proudly watch as he sits at his little toddler table and chair set feeding himself rice with a plastic spoon. It’s hard to tell if he’s a righty or lefty as he alternates the spoon in his hands. He’s grown so much as a terrific 2-year old.
I sit and watch with a lot of thoughts on my mind. As many other young parents, I get concerned about whether he is eating well enough, if he’s getting proper nutrition and if I’m providing him with enough food options. Many times at meal time I begin to panic, wondering what would be the best choices for him, as they do get rather picky at this age. If there is anything I would spend a fortune on, it would be piece of mind about his food!
As he sits here and ceases eating to start playing with the food, I remember my grandmother particularly who would sit and watch me eat as a little girl in just the same way; well, except that she would have a switch in hand since I would never eat. I remember chewing food reluctantly and many times tearfully as my grandma watched me with scrutiny. Thinking over it now makes me wonder what was going through her mind as well. I can imagine her worry as she sat there, her desperate attempts to make me comply and the many prayers she prayed. Her intent was not to force me to eat meals that I did not enjoy but rather to ensure that I was healthy and grew strong.
“Okay, MM”, I say as I stop him from sprinkling rice through his fingers like sand and making it pour all over the table and floor. He falls to the floor and wails in protest.
Terrific.
Food is meant for nourishment and pleasure; may we and our children always enjoy it!
-Lyrics by tia 2012
