Blue Waffles
Sunday mornings at the Smith house
Easy like Sunday morning is a song lyric for people without children. No disrespect Mr. Richie…love you and the Commodores. Sunday is no different than any other day. Bingham wakes up at 7am on the dot…no exceptions…burst into our bedroom declaring that he is no longer asleep and the day commences. This happens on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday…also on leap years, all major holidays including those European bank holidays, and all the newly created holidays (Festivus included).
I am feeling rested. Please don’t tell Dana. I leap up to grab Bingham and head downstairs, giving Dana and Delanie more time in bed. Bingham helps me feed Madison - our 10 year old neglected Labradoodle. He grabs a 1-cup measured scoop and ushers her dry food into the bowl. I fill her water and Bingham and I return upstairs to commence breakfast negotiations.
We decide not to use an arbiter and mutually reconcile what he will have for breakfast. I give him some time to deliberate on this crucial decision. I want Blueberry and Frosted cereal, Bingham declares. These are the names of the high protein, low sugar cereals from Magic Spoon that grace our cupboards. Ok. Would you like milk with your cereal? No. Ok. Can the cereals be in the same bowl? Yes. Ok, cereal here we come. As I pour the blue and golden cereal into a white porcelain colored bowl, Bingham says, “Also blue waffles.” You want blue waffles? Yes. He gives me this directive while watching Dinosaur King on Amazon Prime. We did not make eye contact; however, we are locked in on this menu. Cereal, then blue frickin waffles.
Thankfully we have an array of food coloring in our domicile. I ask Bingham to specify the color blue…dark blue, sky blue, or standard blue…we have to have the right Pantone or quality control (Bingham) may reject the waffle. He declares sky blue, which surprises me. He has always been a “dark blue” guy. Hey, preferences change. Better to get pre clearance…Even when you get pre clearance, the toddler mind could shift in the matter of moments. I am ill prepared for a shift in preference this morning. Limited additional waffle supplies means that we have to get this right out of the gate. I grab the Pamela’s Baking and Pancake mix and begin waffle creation. Approximately, 8 minutes later, Bingham is handed a plate with a blue waffle. Another smile. He eats about an eighth of the waffle. I say nothing. Dad, my tummy is full. Great Bingham, I am so happy to hear that.
My lesson: We have all heard that you have to pick your battles. I always ask myself a few questions before creating healthy tension between Bingham and I.
What are the behaviors that I am trying to cultivate? For meals I want him to eat to maintain his energy and to keep him from getting hangry. I prefer him to eat non-process healthy foods. I often choose calories. Our meals consistent of balanced unprocessed meals. He is getting good food most of the time.
What are the consequences of this behavior if left uncorrected? The potential consequences are numerous. He may feel entitled and not build acceptance. He may think he can always get what he wants. We have to balance these learnings and sometimes restrict the immediate gratification.
How can I teach him something without him knowing it? We do not like being controlled or told what to do. I often try to make something his idea. Blue waffles, you asked for it and now you can eat it. It took me a nanosecond to put a couple drops of food coloring in the waffle batter. I gave him some control and he was also obedient in eating breakfast… kind of. Win-win.