Sparkles
During dinner, the older kids and I ate while my youngest chattered away. She picked at her dinner - brown rice, chicken breast, green beans, kidney beans, corn and carrots with sliced apples. The older kids and I finished and left the table, and still my youngest stayed at the table, picking at her food. I left her there for a few minutes, and set my daughter up with her homework at the other end of the table.
The dryer buzzer went off, and I went to switch loads. As I pulled open the lid of the washer, my four-year-old shot past me, feet pattering down the hall. She skidded around the corner into the bathroom, and leaped up onto the toilet.
I joined her in the bathroom. "What are you doing?" She was staring at her face in the mirror, and then she turned to me and said "Don't you see my sparkles?"
I bluffed. "Oh yes, there they are."
She beamed at me. "I just ate a carrot, and I'm so sparkly now. Look at my eyes!"
I encouraged her to return to the table and eat another carrot. She leaped down from the toilet and sped into the kitchen. I shot a questioning look at my oldest daughter, and she grinned.
"See, I told you. Carrots make your eyes sparkle!"
My youngest couldn't wait to finish each and every carrot on her plate. I provided a small hand mirror to save her from dashing the length of the house after each bite.
Comments
That's a good one! Your daughter is pretty smart to help the little one that way -- and I hope you don't mind, but I'm definitely using that one!
Posted by: JenniferB | January 9, 2007 9:19 PM
So cute. I think I need to get a few fabrications going on around here as well. Something revolving round super heroes and super powers.
Posted by: HealthyMummy | January 10, 2007 12:05 AM
That is so great for your oldest daughter to think of something like that! I am so glad that it worked. Isn't it great when the older ones can help out like that?
Posted by: LoriB | January 10, 2007 7:05 AM
How sweet!
Posted by: Nancy | January 10, 2007 7:48 AM
Your oldest daughter totally rocks, but you knew that didn't you?
By the way, do you get Cooking Light? There was a delicious recipe for turkey sausage, escarole and white bean ragout that was massively delicious!
Posted by: jenn2 | January 10, 2007 9:21 AM
How wonderful! The best thing in the world is when the older ones creatively instruct the younger! And it is a credit to your parenting as well; they only do what they've seen modeled! So Bravo Big Slice! =)
Posted by: prov31wisemom | January 10, 2007 1:18 PM
Woo, that's a great one. My husband told the kids that carrots help you see in the dark, and peas help you breathe underwater. (If you can't breathe underwater, you haven't eaten enough peas yet!) I'm sure their swim instructor is thrilled to know why they keep coughing up water.
Posted by: SheilaC | January 11, 2007 12:17 AM
How freaking cute are your kids Jenny? I just love reading about them. Good job on dinner - do you do the baked brown rice thing? If not, I have a killer recipe for ya - just email me.
Posted by: Karen Rani | January 11, 2007 7:37 AM
Could you send your daughter to my house to convince my youngest son to eat more than three bites at a time?
That dinner sounds yummy!
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 11, 2007 8:04 PM