The Apple

The other night Isaiah behaved in his typical picky toddler way at dinner. Dessert #1 was frozen yogurt (those yogurt tubes stuck in the freezer) and he ate about half of it. Then he said "I'm still hungry!" As if he were a person capable of rational thought, I pointed out that he should have eaten more of the dinner we offered him - (which included the toddler staple, grilled cheese). But, not really having it in me to deny a hungry child any food, I asked him if he wanted some fruit. He asked for a pear. No pears, how about an apple? OK.

I brought him a few slices of peeled apple (like most kids, he doesn't like the skin and this is how he always eats apple) to which he shreeked (NO! I want the whole thing). I was feeling impatient at this point so instead of giving him a new apple, I brought the other half of the apple. That didn't fly and he threw it on the ground. We scolded him for this, to which he responded with a major melt down. I want the whole thing! Over and over. For a few minutes we tolerated the melt down and explained that he shouldn't throw food, etc. He reminded us that "I need food for my body to grow!" Despite my better judgment about not caving in to whining, I finally brought out a whole apple - red delicious. He held it in his hands, victory at last.

Then he said in that whiney-I really-needed-to-nap-today-but-I-skipped-it voice "But this doesn't look like an apple! It's not round!" Incredibly, I then brought out a Pink Lady (great name) apple, he took a couple of bites and was done.