Apparently here's another post about my kids.

Spencer asked for something other than pb&j for lunch today, and all at once my expectation that my child would eat nothing but peanut butter and jelly for thirteen years went up in smoke. It may not last, but today he went to school with a ham and cheese sandwich so we’ll see how that works out. He didn’t eat his sandwich for the last two days because it touched the grapes in the same Tupperware, so today I put his orange slices in a zip lock so they wouldn’t mingle. Kids. Full of such opinions.

I can’t remember (I suppose I could look, but I can’t be bothered right now) if I’ve commented on Henry’s eating lately. Henry’s whole attitude all together is just fantastic, but more on that later – his eating! The pickiest eater in our family is actually agreeing to our one-bite rule, and not only that – he’s LIKING things! It started really with Smitten Kitchen’s one pot farro.   …. I started typing this and the muscle memory kicked in and I was sure I told this before so I check, and yes – last week. So anyhow, the next day was turkey burgers and asparagus. Greens are always out, but I grilled them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. He wouldn’t touch them on principle but when told he needed to have one, he ate all on his plate. “They’re sweet! I like asparagus!”

A few days later was green beans. He eats them at daycare but has always refused here. Potatoes were the same night, and I cut them thin and sautéed with garlic and salt and pepper. The green beans were pan cooked in ghee. He loved the green beans and ate them all – hated the potatoes (which he’s always told me he doesn’t like potatoes, even at daycare and lately even fries). He did agree that he would try potatoes again if I cooked them differently so next time I'm trying a gratin.

When we were out the other day there was zucchini on his plate and mushrooms too, and he refused and I didn’t push it because we were in a restaurant. I’m trying to decide how I could try cooking both for him to try that he might like. Last night I dropped some peas and chopped chicken in mac & cheese and he at first refused again but by the end of the meal he was exclaiming “I like peas!”

I feel like we’re on a roll here and I want to keep expanding his repertoire. I also keep reminding him about things he liked – “you liked asparagus, remember?” so that he doesn’t revert back to hating everything. Tonight I’m making pot pie, and I’m nervous because H never really goes for unprocessed chicken or soup-like consistencies, and lately he tells me he doesn’t like carrots. I might have him help me make it though. Dinner! In a pie! Maybe the novelty will help.

And more about his attitude – Four has been so delightful lately. He has these little quirks that make me laugh so much. If he gets mad (which is still OFTEN, short fuse boy) he makes this stern face (I need to get a picture) and forces my face forehead-to-forehead like he’s going to stare me down, and then gives me eskimo kisses and completely melts his own mood. He doesn’t fight about his homework (the daycare does kindergarten readiness, so he has worksheets there and at home every day to work on matching skills and writing letters and numbers) even though he still gets discouraged because he’s not good at it yet. He loves to hold my hand and tell me about things he did and remembers and specific episodes of shows that he saw that I’ve never seen. THIS is what I love. The last six months struggles were to get to this point. It was worth it.