Poor Ellie. She has no idea that Susannah wants to roast her over a fire and eat her for dinner.
Susannah, of course, just turned five last week.
My, aren’t we getting sassy and awfully logical these days.
I am not a very black and white person. I see gray all over the place. After the following conversation, I got to thinking about gray areas and polar extremes. They are supposed to be the ultimate “black and whites”, right?
Except no. There is a middle ground between tall and short. Between fat and skinny. Between hot and cold. You get my drift.
I am finding all kinds of gray areas in the messages I am sending in my parenting these days.
A few days ago, Sawyer finagled a snack into the family room even though he knows that we only eat at the table. I reminded him of this in a very kind and sweet manner and stood in the family room for a minute straightening throw pillows and picking up dirty diapers toys.
While eating an apple.
Gray area.
As for Susannah, she is a HUGE lover of dogs and puppies. Not a fan of dolls, no. Of course not. I would not want my only female child to be into dolls at all.
But oh… how we love our dogs and puppies. And about ten million stuffed animals that breed during the night – they are practically coming out of her door in the morning when I wake her up. Which has nothing to do with this story, but still. You need to know that.
She has been on this kick lately of knowing what kind of meat we are eating at dinner. In other words, if we are eating pork chops, she wants to know if it comes from a cow or a pig. If we are eating chicken, she is curious about the part of the chicken we are eating. She then goes on to inquire how a farmer kills a chicken so we can eat it.
It’s so very appetizing to have this conversation as I am sinking my teeth into a moist and juicy chicken breast. It’s enough to make me go vegan.
She recently asked me why we don’t ever eat dogs. When I explained to her that dogs are a domestic animal in our country and no one eats dog, she then asked “Do they eat dogs in other countries?”
“Yes”, I explained, “they do.” To which she replied, “Well, I want to try dog.”
Have I ever mentioned that my eldest child is the freakin’ pickiest eater on the planet?
She will not eat crusts. The other night her pizza was “too hard”. Her macaroni and cheese is sometimes “too mushy”.
But dog? Sure, she’ll give it a whirl.
When she announces to everyone gathered around the dinner table that “I don’t like that” while pointing to something out of her realm of the five foods she will eat, I calmly tell her that she doesn’t know if she likes it yet or not because she has not tried it.
Yes, I channel my own mother sometimes.
After making her desires to try dog known, I simply crinkled my nose up and said “Ick.”
“Mommy, have you ever had dog before?” she asks while flashing me her quizzical blue eyes.
“No and yuck, I don’t ever plan to try dog,” was my reply.
“But mom…you don’t know if you like dog or not because you have never tried it.”
Gray area.
Everyone lock up your Fidos and Spots, please.
Have I mentioned lately that your kids are hilarious?
They are most certainly little pieces of work but I guess the apples don’t fall far from the trees…:) Of course, anything negative comes from JJ’s side…
Ha ha ha… this is soooo funny! She is the cutest little thing. Next time you feed her and she won’t try something new tell her it’s dog and maybe she’ll try it and love it!!! HA HA HA But remind her that she wanted to try dog so here is her chance! Thanks for sharing! Oh and please tell her Happy Late birthday from her cousins!
That is exactly my plan, Jessica. Everything I serve her from now on will be “a la dog”.
I will pass the message on to her. Thanks for reading, Jessica!
Adorable photo!
Stopping by from SITS to say HI! I have made a promise to myself to visit and comment on all blogs posted to spread the love!
.-= DENISE´s last blog ..Saving Money & The Environment =-.
Thanks for reading, Denise!
What a funny story! It cracks me up how our children catch onto the stuff we are telling them and come back with something so witty. She sounds like a smart girl! Happy belated birthday to her!! 5 is a great age, at least it was with our Cade-man!
Funny and smart – that she is but of course, I am her mother so how would I know if she wasn’t?
Thanks, Dena!
Soooo funny! Mine daughter is 3 1/2 but i can so see this exchange happening in my house!!! Lots of gray!!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..A real moment in married time. =-.
I’m pretty much learning, now that I have three children, that I might as well just live in the gray. Nothing is black and white when you are a parent. Nothing I say.
Thanks for reading, Kathy!
Tell her cats taste better – Just kidding of course.
.-= Bookvisions´s last blog ..Heart Healthy Monday with recipe =-.
HA! I’ll have to share that with her.
Thanks for reading!
Of course you could tell her that whatever normal food item you’ve been struggling to get her to eat is dog, and see what happens. Say she doesn’t like burgers, tell her tonight you’re having special dogburgers. Maybe she’ll eat.
One of my cousins refused to eat rice when she was three, without trying it she said she hated it. Until her mother told her it wasn’t rice, but little tiny chickens. Of course she loved chicken, and from that day forward she loved rice too.
True story.
—Perico
LOVE it. She won’t eat rice either. I’ll try it…
Give her a hot dog.
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Good Times =-.
Now isn’t that just the best idea?
My little guy stands with his feet hanging over the edge to the kitchen entry way. He is not supposed to take his cup out of the kitchen so, there he stands. Stopping by from SITS!
Ah, yes. They constantly find ways to be JUST INSIDE the parameters…I can’t really say much though because this is exactly how I am as well. I suppose it is natural but so funny to be on the side of the enforcer.
Thanks for stopping by!
This is absolutely hysterical. I cannot imagine a constructive way to move through that scenario. This was really good. I am on your side of the dog debate.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Choosing Peace =-.
Thanks, Tracy. I might need to bring in reinforcement if she brings this up anymore. I could get worried. Very worried.
Natalie- This by far is my favorite post! Thank you for making my day today. I needed it!
Well, you are quite welcome, Megan. Thank you muchly for the sweet compliment!
That is just too hilarious!! I’m surprised my kids haven’t thought of it before!! I’ve enjoyed my visit here today!
.-= Joye´s last blog ..snow daze =-.
Thanks, Joye! I love love love your blog. Thanks for reading!
Out of the mouths of babes! Gross, but cute!
.-= Christie´s last blog ..Attempted Family Portrait =-.
Too funny!
My son lives in Cambodi – where they eat dog all the time.
I don’t know if he has sampled it yet. Yuck!
Have a great trip!
Hmmm… I hope Susannah doesn’t move to Cambodia someday. I would miss her so. But I suppose she could eat dog whenever she wanted.
Stopping by from Mama Kat’s…
I took a climatology course in college and ever since I tend to see the broad spectrum of things much like your Grey areas. Of course, everyone tends to say that everything “tastes like chicken” so you could just feed her chicken and say that it’s dog.
Thanks for sharing,
.-= Christopher (AKA: CaJoh)´s last blog ..Just Being =-.
Now that’s priceless! Haha. “You’ll never know, Mommy!”
So, tell us, Mommy, what’s for dinner next week?!
I’m visiting from Mama Kat’s and I posted this week, too!
http://jessicaelizabethr.blogspot.com/2010/02/writers-workshop-helicopters.html
Love this! You are a very talented writer! I love talented writers so I’ll definitely be back to read some more. Great post.
.-= Jeanette@Bliss´s last blog ..Now that’s entertainment (sorta)… =-.
HI found ya at Mama Kat’s and thought I would come over. Love the post too cute.. I do the same thing with not eating anywhere but the table. My logic, I tend not to spill it everywhere lol.. have a blessed day hun
Amen! That’s another perk for sure…:) Thanks for reading and visiting!
THAT is hilarious! Just stopping by from Mama Kat’s writer’s workshop – I think I’ll come back and read more! :) Jen
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Writer’s Workshop – February Photo =-.
Well thanks, Jen. I hope you DO come back and read more. All are welcome here.
She sounds like she would get along with my Lilly (almost 5) just perfectly!!! LOL! What a cutie with a big ol’ smarty pants brain in her head. Cute post- comin’ over from Mama kats.
.-= Brae´s last blog ..TWW (Two week wait) =-.
Thanks, Brae. Yes, smarty pants we are. I’m in for it.
don’t you just love it when what we tellour kids comes back to bite us in the butt?!
Well, um…no. HA! I know you are being sarcastic…
ewww no dog! LOL this was so cute!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Writer’s Workshop — A day late =-.
Our oldest is almost 5 and is also starting to “catch” me in things. Just this morning he got all embarrassed when my husband and I were smooching. We’ve entered *that* stage. =)
.-= MandyP´s last blog ..Let Me Hold You Longer =-.
Love it – Susannah thinks it is very romantic when she sees mommy and daddy kiss but I can assure you that Sawyer, who squirms whenever I try to love on him, will be just like your little guy. Too funny!