Veggin' and Dippin'

I saved an excerpt from a magazine article that read about two months after Abbie was born. The basic idea of the article was that you should deal with all your shortcomings, issues with food, insecurities with your body, etc., if not for your own sake, for the sake of your daughter. I think the broader concept that we as parents should push ourselves to be better people for our children, but it seems a little more personal for me when you think strictly about women and their daughters (of course I think this way, since I only have a daughter and not a son).

But I do really, really want my daughter to have the healthiest attitude towards herself and others. I want her to treat herself well, because I really do think that she'll grow into a woman who takes care of others well. Simple, yet oh, so complicated.

I give you that tidbit into my way of thinking about Abbie so you know why I continue to try and get her to, um, eat her veggies. Yes, the never-ending veggie battle that parents have with toddlers. It is more complicated than "because they are good for you" because I want her to want to eat her veggies. And I keep on trying as a mother who DOES NOT LIKE TO EAT HER VEGGIES.

And I am proud to say, I am able to keep my sense of humor about the whole mess. For example, today I offered Abbie raw cauliflower and even gave her some ranch dressing to dip it in. But instead of eating it up, she gags at the veggie and instead opts to dip Cheez-It crackers in ranch. She is so my kid.