How one woman’s comment made a difference for me
*This post was originally published in 2008.
Not long ago, frustrated by my picky eaters, I came up with a plan to help them try new foods:
Every week, they’re responsible for going through our recipe books, picking out one meal each that they think sounds good, then being the head cook for that meal during the week.
This plan has meant setting aside time to help them read through cookbooks.
And it’s meant longer trips to the store.
And a messier kitchen on the nights they cook (they are 7 and 9 years old).
But it’s also meant finding some dinners that they really like. And that they probably wouldn’t have tried so cheerfully if they weren’t the ones who’d picked them out and cooked them.
A little while after we started doing this, we all went to Starbucks one morning.
We brought a couple of cookbooks with us because we were heading to the grocery store afterwards and needed to pick out what we were going to make that week.
My kids flipped through the pages, looking at the pictures, asking questions, and deciding…
and deciding…
and deciding…
until finally, they made their choices.
“Good job,” I said, “These are going to be tasty.” I marked the pages and groaned inside as I scanned the long list of ingredients. (Even though the new plan was helping to expand my kids’ tastes, it was turning out to be a lot of work.)
And that’s when the woman at the table next to us stood up and came over.
She put her hand on my shoulder and leaned down.
“You’re a good mom,” she said.
I smiled, confused. “Thanks.”
“Is this something you do all the time, with the cookbooks?”
I didn’t know she’d heard us.
I explained to her what we’d started with the meals.
“I think that’s great,” she said. Then again, “You’re a good mom.”
I could barely respond.
Honestly, I felt like I might start crying.
Her compliment meant a lot to me.
Because it was affirmation that sometimes the more time-consuming or inconvenient choice for us as moms is the best choice for our kids.
And because, sometimes, when we’re wondering if all the effort is worth it, we need to be reminded that it is.
I was so thankful for that woman’s words that morning, and for the fact that she took the time to come over to me.
Because it made all the difference in the world.
It really did.
More recent picky eater posts (that will encourage you if you have picky eaters too):
A note about picky eaters…
8 Great Tricks for Parenting Toddlers
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This was a beautiful, sentimental post about we moms should *so* treat each other! Love the plan, love the post and indeed: You *are* a good Mama!
Thank you for this thought-provoking post!! There are many times when taking the harder way is also the best way for our kids. Kudos to you!
Oh…and one more thing. That lady WAS right. You ARE a good mom!Jeanine
Wait…where did my first post go? Oh well…it was long and wordy, anyway. Long story short…thanks for reposting that post. As the mom of picky eaters, this is certainly something I'm going to try.Peace and blessings.Jeanine
Thanks, Ladies! And Jeanine, I always love your long comments. :))
Oh…you're just being nice. My long and wordy comments are nothing, though, compared to sitting down with me for a visit!Hope you're having a great day!Peace and blessings to you!Jeanine
What a sweet post! That is definitely something I'll try with my daughter when she's older!
I missed Monday – Don't know how! I always look forward to Mondays at your place. I've had a few moments like this – one was when I was playing basketball with my guys when they were littler at the university fitness center. A young man came over, saying how nice it was to see a mom doing this with her sons. Inside, I was encouraged with this pat on the back, but then I was awed that maybe God used this moment to plant a seed about what kind of family this young man wants to have. A Pass it Forward kind of thing. Those moments are like double espresso shots from God!https://bluecottonmemory.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/pass-it-forward/
As a mom who spent many shopping trips/outings trying not to appear frazzled, I appreciated those who had something encouraging to say, instead of those who looked at me and said "How many kids do you have? Are you crazy!???" I swore to myself that I would remember that and do the same for others. Thanks for reminding me how precious encouragement can be!
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