Story Teller

To get out of or delay eating … G talks.  And talks.  And talks.  Just yammers away.  Telling you all about his day, what he wants for Christmas, what he'd like to do after nap, the toys he played with before the meal, the toys he wants to play with during the meal, the animals he's learning about, what he did at school … on and on and on.

He did it at school too.  Every adminstrator there comments on G's stories.  It's the first thing I heard about when he was 2.  All the teachers and staff … "He loves telling stories."  Mostly he loves talking, and interacting with people.  And being entertaining.  He is his father's son.  His 3yo class and staff said the same thing.  His music teacher on her thank you card … "Thank you so much for everything and I will miss all of G's wonderful stories and his fun dancing in music class."

His food therapist said that it was sweet really, that her kid just throws tantrums and stomps and shouts to get out of eating.  She thought G's method - which he tried with her too - was much more effective.

And it is.  Which is why he does it.  The kid is bright.  He figured out pretty early that the crying had negative consequences.  But what parent is going to tell a sweet, chatty 3/4yo to shut up and eat?

Today … the Wild Kratts episode is about fireflies.

Mama, my daddy's friends house has lots and lots of fireflies.  And we're going - 

G what are you supposed to be doing right now?

Mama.  [emphatic and down right glaring at me] I will eat after I finish telling you about my fireflies.  Okay?  [Huh.  Okay then.] So, mama my daddy's friends house has lots and lots of fireflies.  And someday we're going to go there and I'm going to watch them and catch a bunch in a jar!  Fireflies light up and are bugs!  [stops]

That's amazing sweetie. Can you eat now?

And thus it goes. (He did eat the prereq two bites).  Usually he goes on and on, and sighs big sighs when I interrupt him.  But seriously he'd talk my ear off for two hours and not eat a bite.  I eventually have to say something like, G, I want to hear everything you have to say and every story you want to tell me, but you have to eat your dinner first.

Today his daddy has said he's going to knock off work early and come home to go golfing with the boys.  But seriously guys it's hot out there so I'm opting for bowling.  I'm actively sabotaging his plan by reminding G how much fun he had bowling, and now the 4yo wants to go bowling.

Winning.