On Lettuce and Love

(picture of the boys proudly making their own salad)

I'm pretty sure that I was raised eating iceberg lettuce....that is, if I ever even ate the salad my mother prepared for me. I was the ultimate picky eater growing up....my poor mother. I learned so much from the compassion my mother gave me.

As a child, I lived on peanut butter. My mother would make meals for the family.....if I did not like what was being offered for the family meal, I was offered peanut butter or cereal. I was never forced to eat what was being served. There were reasons behind my picki-ness, reasons that as a young child I could not explain. I'm so thankful that my mom did not push me.....I grew up to become an adult who eats just about everything.....and in large quantities.

Another quirk, I had a terrible fear of the dark. For about the first 12 years of my life my parents would either sleep on my floor or let me sneak into bed with them....in the middle of the night. I was prone to sleep walking too. Again, I appreciate the love and patience that my parents gave to me. Those fears were very real to me and my parents took them very seriously......I grew up to be an adult who is able to spend the night alone.

My youngest brother and I are only 11 months apart.....as children my mother would sign us up for various classes together. My brother never had a problem...me, I was super shy girl. Usually, you would find me glued to my mother's side. She would encourage me to try, but not force me to stay. I believe this understanding and love helped me. Again.....I grew up to be more out going and able to try just about anything. Even if I feel shy, I'm able to push myself through it.

I appreciate my parent's love and understanding of me as a child.....and I believe that the way I parent has much to do with that. I've learned so much from my mother. I now have a child who has anxiety.....eating quirks, fear of the dark and other things. God gave us these children....he chose them for us. I'm trying to offer the same love and understanding to my boys that was given to me.....back to the lettuce....

When I married G....I was introduced to Romaine lettuce....and various other leafy greens. Over time, I completely forgot about iceberg lettuce....until recently. You see, my boys have never liked salad....I only offered them romaine and other dark greenleaves. Recently, our friends were over for dinner and brought salad....iceberg lettuce. My boys tasted it and loved it....salad is now a daily part of their meal....they love it. I had forgotten all about iceberg.....yes, it's easy to forget something so obvious. Please don't judge ;) I can't believe it myself.....how could I overlook sweet, refreshing iceberg? Well, I did.....and really it's easy to overlook the obvious sometimes.

Now, I wonder what other things I'm overlooking?? What's right in front of me....yet, I can't see because I'm focusing on something else? Think about it.