Traitor Food

I guess every parent thinks their kid is special. And talented.  And unique.

Well, Rob and I have come across a NUMBER of unique abilities that Toby has.  But my recent discovery has been abilities in mouth and tongue acrobatics.

Toby loves to eat.  But sitting still for 10 minutes while someone puts mouthful after mouthful of food into your mouth is BORING.  So he likes to play as he eats.  And Rob and I realize that this is a dangerous habit, so we indulge him by handing him bowls, spoons and tupperware (with lids) to keep him occupied while we stuff his mouth with food.

It not only keeps him entertained, but it does expand his palate.  Put a piece of cracker inside a see through container with a lid on it and he’ll work at taking that lid off so he can throw that piece of cracker on the floorfor at least 30 seconds.  Which isn’t much. But you can get a lot of food into his mouth in 30 seconds.  Even the most disgusting taste concoctions- - boiled cabbage, canned turkey and vegetable bright orange stuff….a little tupperware distraction and it all goes in….

But every now and then, when we least expect it….a TRAITOR emerges.

USUSALLY it’s a traitor piece of corn.  But every now and then – like when he’s eating lasagne or chicken and rice a traitor piece of meat emerges.  And Toby will STOP playing  and slowly put down his spoon or fork or piece of Tupperware  and then look up at me and make a face.

And very slowly….he’ll raise his left eyebrow as his silent accusation screams, “YOU put a TRAITOR in my MOUTH and I am now going to EJECT IT.  WATCH”

And very slowly, his mouth will contort into a million and one different angles and before you know it, the “traitor” piece of food is being ejected from his mouth.

 

What is truly remarkable about this is that he somehow manages to SEPARATE this horrific piece of food from the rest of the food. And, being a boy who loves to eat, he wouldn’t want to waste the rest of the mouthful on a lousy traitor piece.  So he somehow manages to eject that ONE piece of corn while salvaging the rest - all with his unique abilities in tongue and mouth acrobatics.

What can I say - -my boy has talent.

Watch out all ye who have baby girls- - my boy is going to be “that kid” who can woo YOUR kid with his ability to knot a cherry stem in his mouth.  Just wait and see....