A few weeks ago, we had a night of unusual food, and both boys begged and negotiated to eat only a few bites. I remembered that that was how B learned to count in the first place, it was certainly how he learned to figure greater than and less than!
DH started singing the Weird Al Yankovic song "Just Eat It." We decided to look it up on U-tube. The boys weren’t getting it, so we showed them "Beat It." and then "Eat It." Now the boys say they really like Michael Jackson and want to hear more of his music. Oops.
I still crack up at the Eat It song. My mother was more likely to tell me how missionaries need to show respect for people by eating what is in front of them than to say other kids were starving. I have resorted to reading World Vision magazine to them sometimes though. We do "no thank you" helpings, and ask them to help cook, and come up with menus. I think learning to make yourself do something because you must is important, even if it’s filling your mouth with food you are sure is disgusting. Some day they will have to make embarrassing apologies, write term papers, wake up at night to care for their children…the world is full of unpleasant duties.
Just Eat It.