Like most parents, I’m not perfect. In fact, I’m far from it. But also like most parents, I strive to be the best mom I can be to Blue. Some days my best is better than others days and some days doing my best just means getting through the day. I’m pretty sure that means I’m normal.

Blue is, generally, a happy easy-going toddler. He loves to play outside, watch Elmo videos and wrestle – this makes it a lot easier to be a good mom to him. I love to take him outside and watch him run around. I love to hear his laugh as he wrestles with his dad or cousins. I love to hear him “sing” as he pounds on our piano. However, Blue is also a very normal toddler. He throws temper tantrums and gets mad when he doesn’t get his way, he plays in the toilet and eats cat food every chance he gets. But his favorite thing to do, the thing that drives HandyMan and I the most nuts is when Blue throws his food at meal times. He does it at almost every meal. Usually it just means he’s done eating, but sometimes it means he doesn’t want to eat what has been offered. It’s incredibly frustrating!

It’s important to HandyMan and I that Blue eats well-balanced meals that include lots of fruits and vegetables. I usually offer fruits with lunch and vegetables with supper and usually Blue eats them just fine. Especially the fruits! However getting him to eat vegetables is sometimes easier said than done. He loves potatoes and, much to my surprise, he loves broccoli, however getting him to eat carrots, peas or any other vegetable is often an exercise in futility. He either carefully picks them out and places them in the cup holder on his high chair tray, or he throws them on the floor (which results in all of his food being taken away for a few minutes). I have found that if I mix the veggies in with foods he really loves, i.e. macaroni and cheese, he just shovels it in so fast he doesn’t even notice he’s eating vegetables. I have also found that if Blue refuses something the first time it is offered, he will usually eat it just fine the second or third time it appears on his plate. That has definitely been a valuable thing to learn!

But as I said, I’m not perfect. Sometimes I lose track of time or we run out of fresh fruits and vegetables before I get a chance to buy groceries. On those days, Blue eats Mac & Cheese, the kind from a box that comes with powdered cheese or a peanut butter sandwich and potato chips. And he loves it! Considering that Blue’s dad has an appetite that would rival Joey Chestnut’s (of Nathan’s hot dog eating contest fame) it doesn’t surprise me that Blue loves to eat and has a healthy appetite. I just hope I can teach him to love the healthy foods as much as he loves his Mac & Cheese!