Green Eggs and Ham is one of my three year old's favorite bedtime reads at the moment. He picks it about three or four nights a week. Each time, I oblige him...even though the book is like a million pages long. It's amazing how many times I can re-read the longet books and re-watch Disney movies without getting too tired of it. I do not necessarily love it, but he enjoys every time like it's the first time, and I do my best to not be a buzz-kill.
My son is a picky eater. It's a general toddler pickyness born from a limited diet due to food allergies and texture aversion. When I spotted Green Eggs and Ham on the shelf at my favorite kid's resale store, Kid to Kid, I remembered how persistent Sam-I-Am was in wearing down that fuzzy man until he tried those eggs. Figured I could learn some things from Sam...and learn I did.
A few days ago my son ate half of a chicken thigh, which we celebrated, as we do anytime he actually swallows anything he's had to chew first. I knew I was one step closer to sending him to school with a non-pureed lunch. So I offered him some stewed potatoes. This is how it all went down:
Me: Papa, would you like some potatoes?
Him: No thank you. It's too hiccuppy. (Hiccuppy, means it gives him "hiccups", his word for gag)
Me: But don't you like potatoes? You love sweet potatoes, you eat them all the time. (Gerber)
Him: No. I only want the sweet potatoes from the container. I don't like hiccupy potatoes.
Me: (quoting the book in the Sam-I-Am voice I use at storytime) You don't like them, so you say...(His face lights up. I continue.) Try them, and you may. Try them and you may I say.
Him: You sound like Sam I Am! Like the book! (giggles)
Me: Yes. So do you think you can try the potatoes, like the man in the book?
He nods yes, very enthusiastically with a huge closed-mouth grin. Then he pickes up a small piece of the stewed potato, puts it in his mouth, chews it and most importantly, swallows it. When he proudly opened his mouth to show me the potato was all gone, we celebrated with high-fives and "awesome"s.
Him: (in the voice of the fuzzy man I use at storytime) I DO like potatoes!
I offered him another piece of potato.
Him: No thanks. More chicken please.
And so our battle with his food texture aversion goes...and it goes on. That he ate that piece of potato was a big accomplishment for him and a huge victory for me. Sam-I-Am has come in quite handy since then.
I wonder if Dr. Seuss penned a book that would give me similar success with getting the boy to use the potty. On my to-do list, read Oh The Places We Will Go.
Nice. That's a good one. I guess I have to get started on those Dr. S books!
Posted by: Sigers | February 2011 at 07:20 PM
Thank you! If you jump in to Dr. Seuss, beware and be prepared for a good loooong read. Sometimes, I sneak and grab a few pages when it's time to turn the page. If he's paying close attention he will call me on it. I be so caught. lol
Posted by: Quel | February 2011 at 02:02 PM
This is my laughter for the night. I'm on the phone w/ Browngirl and we're LOL! More chicken please...
Posted by: Notorious Spinks | February 2011 at 07:57 PM
I love this post. If only Dr. seuss had a book on cleaning your room! Or putting the seat down!!LOL!
Posted by: Kimberly | March 2011 at 01:24 PM