I was at the store yesterday getting groceries and was scoping out the Kool-Aid when two other women were kind of blocking the isle. I maneuvered around them to grab a few packets when one woman said to me something about how she never lets her kids drink Kool-Aid. Well, I said, it's better than soda! And she replied, I don't let them drink that either. Then I looked at the coco puffs cereal I had also added to my cart, and then the guilt sank in. Am I a bad mom for letting my child drink Kool-aid? I know that it's just ridiculously concentrated food coloring with a hint of flavor, and I rationalize that I only had half of the recommended sugar, but it's getting him to drink fluid, right? Then with the cereal, is it bad to let my son eat the sugary concoction at will? Often, many times a day? It's better than candy, sure, but healthy? Ok, maybe not. At least it has whole grains and some nutritional fortitude... or so the rationalizing continues.
Then I get to thinking about other kid foods, like hot dogs, chicken nuggets, etc. Why is it that my son will choose a greasy hot dog over something wonderful like grilled chicken or steak? Is there something in those overly processed meat products (if you can call them that?) that calls to the appetites of our little ones? But, my little inner voice says, at least he's getting some protein.
Then I have experiences like tonight when I look over and see my son willingly put some green beans and carrots in his mouth, chew, and actually look happy about it! Then I think, ok, even though he had Spaghetti-o's for lunch, at least he ate three bites of vegetables of his own accord. That's gotta count for something, right?
6 years ago we were living in my parent's basement while I was finishing up school at WSU and we had a little bit of a hobo spider problem. We tried spider traps and sprays which helped, but then Jarom had the idea of getting a cat (who generally love eating spiders). I was a bit skeptical at first, never having had a cat. We were dog people growing up. But after getting permission from my parents, we went to the animal shelter and found the cutest little kitten I had ever seen. She had a sister in the cage with her, but two kittens would have been too much (although now I wish we did have them both!). So we got our little kitten and she was an excellent little spider predator, but more than that, she burrowed a place into my heart and I fell in feline love with my kitty.
Then, as it took us a few years before we were able to have children, Gabby took the role of needy dependent and made sure that we learned to worship her adequately. She still will often sleep in our bed (sometimes cleaning our foreheads during the night if our level of cleanliness doesn't quite live up to her code). After we lost our first little baby, Gabby stayed by my side for weeks and was so comforting to me and greatly added to my healing. Then when I got pregnant with Isaac a few months later and spent months on bedrest, she was my constant companion (since she spends most of the day in bed anyway). We were quite the pair.
Since having kiddos, though, her role in the family has changed a bit. Instead of being THE PRINCESS, she has been downgraded to just being the princess. She doesn't demand quite as much attention from us any more and has reluctantly agreed to let Isaac shower his love and attention on her. Isaac claims her completely and corrects me if I call her my kitty. No Mommy, he says, Gabby is Isaac's kitty. So even though my actions may not always show it, I love my cat and I so happy that she has joined our family. She is the best, most beautiful cat and I am so glad that she is mine, err, Isaac's. Happy 6th Birthday Gabbi-rella! (Isaac speak for Gabriella)
