October 20, 2009

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.


24 comments:

mama3 said...

I LOVE the picture of the boys, they are so cute!!! Gotta love the iceburg!!! :) We do!!
Love you all!

Tara said...

I was raised on iceberg but prefer romaine. Glad the boys have found the lettuce they like. And, so glad God knows what he is doing ALL the time.

Stacey said...

I am still a very picky eater! I won't eat anything but iceberg.

Alicia said...

Oh, that was good Mimi!!!!!!

Makes me think, for sure!!

Sherry said...

great post, Mimi.

...and now I'll be singing track 2 all day. ;)

Darcie said...

Your parents sound AMAZING. Sometimes I need a good old fashion lesson on being patient with my children. You said it perfectly...a fear to one someone is a true fear..even if we think it is silly. Your parents raised a beautiful daughter...and I am sure they are very proud of you.

Off to listen to #2!

Jana Guild said...

Great post :)

I always serve baby spinach and maybe I need to do a switch. Iceberg would really shake things up a bit around here!

Serendipity is Sweet said...

Wonderful post! I can totally relate to how you felt as a child. I had many of the same issues. Your parents sound wonderful. My parents pushed me more than yours and I don't think it helped my cause, lol. Don't get me wrong, I feel very fortunate to have the parents that I do and I know they have always loved me. But, I do try to remember my own childhood fears when helping my kids through things, and try to remember what I needed most at those times.

You are absolutely right about missing the obvious. Sometimes we're so caught in the thick of it that we can't see what's staring us in the face.
Great post :D

Tiffani said...

Love the leafy, Love the iceberg too...

What a special way to honor your parents and pay forward their sweetness to you upon your own children!

Bunny, The Paris House said...

Great post!! you are very lucky to have such wonderful parents growing up. I'm embarrassed to say but at 4 years of age Oliver has never slept in a crib or by himself because he doesn't like the dark and he cries unless he is with us, that and he was born with a heart condition so when he was a baby I would not leave him alone for a minute. Now my other two boys would always sneak in to bed with us and they have matured into wonderful teens who sleep like rocks alone in the dark each night happy as can be. I also never force my kids to eat, they try it and if they don't like it we make something else , like quick scrambled eggs....so what I'm getting at is You are a great mother and raising children to feel loved!! As for iceburg lettuce shhhh don't tell anyone but its probably my favorite :), so great with Mexican food.
Have a great evening Mimi
xx
Bunny

Dani Joy said...

Wow this is very thought provoking indeed especially for me.. one who was made to eat everything and who makes my boys eat everything.. re evaluating. ;) a good thing. ;)

YOu write in such a sweet non judgmental way. It´s refreshing. I really need to learn how to do that. I can get so preachy.

Thanks for asking if I was feeling better. Actually I am worse today. jeje. but was able to rest. PTL. thanks to my good boys and wonderful hubby ( who is also down sick today)

Big hug girl! hope and pray all goes with with your dr. apts.

Pam said...

That is great that your parents were so understanding. My daughter is extremely picky, but she is allergic to lots of food. I just have some stuff around I know she will eat.

E @ Scottsville said...

As I type this comment, I'm listening to Aretha singing that she's sayin' a little prayer for me!

It is rather catchy, isn't it? =0)

You sound like a wonderful mommy thanks to YOUR wonderful mommy!

{{hugs}}

momstheword said...

What sweet parents you had. It worked out well for you. My friend took her children into the bedroom with her (so she could sleep through the night).

Eventually she had four children in there (the oldest was 12 and the youngest a newborn) and by then she was so frustrated but couldn't get the 12 year old out of her room.

But eventually she got them all out, although he was always afraid to sleep alone, though I imagine he's fine now.

I used to sneak into my parent's room and sleep in their chair, lol!

My youngest didn't like salad but ate a caesar salad one day and loved it. Now he loves any kind of salad!

Bona Fide Mama said...

this was such a sweet post!

Amber said...

I love iceberg lettuce. It is my favorite still, even after being introduced to all those fancy greens.

What a sweet tribute to your parents.

Verne said...

Well, what do you know? I'm still not fond of the dark. If I'm going to sleep alone in the night I have to have even a wee light. Darkness is just not my thing even though I'm all of 43. Lol. Blessings!

carol said...

Your Mom sounds like she was just an incredible mother. I see where you got your parenting tips. How wonderful.
Life is too short to worry about kids eating everything on their plate. I think that's what causes eating disorders. Kids learn that eating is an unpleasant thing.
Keep up the good work with the boys.
I love iceburg lettuce, I know it has no nutritional value. But it is sweet. I used to eat lettuce sandwiches when I was little. Maybe the boys would like one.

Verne said...

It's me again. Just letting you know that I've nominated you for a blog award. You may pick it up by my blog at any time. I really admire your spirit.

Beth in NC said...

Yay for you that your boys are eating salads!!!

You have made me feel better. I have a very picky eater and I don't force her to eat the foods we eat. I get a lot of pressure from my Mom about it too. My daughter was 3 weeks premature and sometimes kids have texture issues. I'm not sure why she is so picky, but I pray she outgrows it like you did.

:o)

Love,
Beth

theelizabethhighsmith said...

this post makes it impossible for me not to think of "lettuce love one another" would you like some cheese for those salads, boys? sweet post!

Lorrie said...

I too have a picky eater. He spends many nights having peanut butter and jelly. My oldest was picky as well and his pallette has expanded...it's great they found they're favorite lettuce!

StacyB said...

Mimi, I wasn't scared of the dark, but I crawled in bed with my parents until I, um, moved out at age 25. They had a warm waterbed, and many, many, MANY mornings after my dad got up, I'd get up and go crawl in with my mom. There were times that I would also go in earlier in the night and crawl in on my mom's side and she'd move to the middle. I can't believe they let me do that. Did you read the part about me being TWENTY-FIVE!!! :P But they did. It is really funn, because we never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever let the kids sleep with us, unless they are REALLLLLLY sick or hurt or it is MUCHO special. I wonder how I could be so mean. ! :P

Life with Kaishon said...

I am so glad your parents raised you just like they did. See, you turned out perfectly normal! People say that if you let your kids sleep with you or if you are too protective then your kid will turn out to be crazy...clearly that is not the case : )

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