deception.

i'm not sure when it happened... but i remember, and long for, the days when chicken eagerly anticipated eating his vegetables. all of his vegetables. now it's a struggle to get him to "strive for five." tonight he didn't eat any of his dinner. not. a. single. bite. his chicken and mixed vegetables just sat there, right along with him, as mama c and i finished our meals. he also sat there while the frozen yogurt was dished out. not to him, of course, and his shrieks of sadness/anger rang throughout the neighborhood.

when dinner was finished, i gave him some more time to change his mind as i loaded the dishwasher. still no dice. so, i wrapped up his meal and we went into the living room to read books. he was hungry and i knew it. he toddled over to where mama c left the cocopops (a rice cake sort of cracker) and brought them over to me ever so nicely. i told him that he may not have a cocopop, but that i would be happy to warm up his dinner for him. he. lost. his. mind.

i went to the kitchen and warmed up his dinner and presented it to him with a fun green spoon. he looked at me as if i had two heads. he wanted a "nack" (snack). i told him that he could have a snack after he ate his dinner. again, no dice.

i knew the kid had to eat. and i know that he will eat when he's hungry... it's a battle of wills. well, i sort of broke. and by sort of, i mean that i mixed his dinner with oatmeal. and he ate it. every. single. bite.

i know that we need to be diligent about this issue. so, our plan is to present him with his veggies first, then his protein and finally his carbs.

and so the saga continues...