I am informed that the chicken gizzards were not delicious. (I think it was at a Japanese place, the kind that specializes in Japanese bar snacks.)

Kat, I am thrilled to hear that Grace is eating some food by mouth. I'd been out of the Grace-loop, but I remember how hard you worked to get her even accepting a tiny amount.

So, basically, at meal time, food is put on the table, the kid is brought to the table, and it's entirely up to the kid which of the food to eat, and how much of it to eat. No pressure from the parent about eating. But, if the kid doesn't eat what's on the table then, than that's it -- the parent isn't going to make a peanut butter sandwich or whatever.

That didn't work for us, or rather at day 3 or 4 of Frances eating nothing but milk for 2 out of 3 meals, I relented and decided that a balanced diet was more important than denying my daughter can be a picky eater sometimes. Other times she'll eat all the things. Unpredictable.

My parents were generally of the "eat what's set before you" school, although we could opt out of foods that obviously made us gag. I suspect that was because my mother feels that way about some foods like lima beans and bananas. In my case, it was English peas and mashed potatoes (texture issues) and eggs, because, eggs.

Ahaha, I complain and my boss calls.

Her father is one of the great fruit pie makers in the Americas!

Happily he has chosen not to be offended, but rather to think, "More pie for me!"

checking in. This was supposed to be my "do stuff" day. I couldn't drag myself out of bed until 11:30, so I'm not sure how much I will get done. Movie might be out.

But, I must get the car washed and put my yearly tag on it before it becomes a ticketable offence.

I went to rehearsal and a party yesterday for my first outing since Wednesday afternoon (aside from a quick Target trip), and I think it was too much, because today it's all I can do to use a cheese plane and pour water. It's so good today's a work holiday for me.

I keep eyeing the clean laundry that needs to be put away, and the dirty laundry that needs to be washed, and then doing a different thing instead. I have the deep bone tiredness that comes with autoimmune/thyroid fatigue. Thank goodness I'm headed to the doctor in a week for a conversation about upping my meds, because this level of fatigue is unsustainable if I'm going to do anything other than go to work.

Also, I'm studying for the GRE in hopes that it will work the same way carrying an umbrella when you shouldn't need it does.

My eldest is SO picky. He pretty much lives on PB&J, fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, Golfish, yogurt raisins, pizza, bagels & cream cheese, and hummus & pretzels ("Thomas and pretzels"). At least it's mostly healthy? We do what we can by using whole wheat bread, fruit preserves with no sugar instead of regular jelly, whole wheat Goldfish, etc. but I wish he'd branch out.

My youngest likes pretty much everything, but so did the eldest at his age (almost 2). Sigh.

So, basically, at meal time, food is put on the table, the kid is brought to the table, and it's entirely up to the kid which of the food to eat, and how much of it to eat. No pressure from the parent about eating. But, if the kid doesn't eat what's on the table then, than that's it -- the parent isn't going to make a peanut butter sandwich or whatever.

The risk I see there is the complete and utter freaking melt down two hours later from the kid who didn't eat enough when their blood sugar crashes. That's pretty distant cause-and-effect to be any sort of teachable moment with a young child.

My sister's parenting philosophy seems to have a good sized dose of something that's just a phase isn't a hill worth dying on. Certainly encourage a bite of the other things to keep them in the loop, but a few months of PB&J isn't worth any major corrective measures.

I should have, basil dishes are my favorites at Thai restaurants. Though really, if it's good Thai almost everything will be tasty. The only caveat is to work your way up the hotness scale, because Thai cooks do not play around with the spices when someone orders "hot."

I suspect that if they had been there before the azithromycin allergy (when everything tasted like black pepper) I would have been happy with 3s and 4s. Nowadays I ask for everything at a 2. And you are very right about everything being tasty. We made a point of trying something new each time we went in there for at least the first ten visits. My impression of the food there is "awesome", "more awesome", and "most awesome". Daniel and I make a point of ordering different dishes so we can share and don't have to have too much of the "but if I get this awesome dish, I can't have that awesome dish" regret. However, something short-circuited on Sunday and I had to eat All The Basil.

Consuela, I hope your sore pooch isn't in too much pain.