Einstein’s Version

I let my son eat dog food today. Yes, you read that correctly. I didn't stop him. I sat there and watched as he shoved a handful of dog food into his mouth as if it were Cheerios. I might have even laughed. Hear me out, I promise there really is a method to my madness. Maybe.

See, I thought about stopping him, but then I realized this could be a teachable moment. If I yelled at him and pulled him away it would have been the beginning of WWIII. But, if I let him eat the dog food he would learn it doesn't taste good and would no longer try to eat it right? Wrong!

I sat and watched as he repeatedly tossed back a handful of dog food, make a terrible face, spit it out, and then toss another handful back. This went on and on as if somehow those disgusting pieces of dog food were going to magically turn into Goldfish.

Einstein describes insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Webster defines it differently but, for the sake of this story we're going with Einstein's version. You see where I'm going with this right? Toddlers are insane! I guess the words persistent or determined could be used as well, but I don't think either of those words do any justice when describing toddlers.

In a toddler's mind if they continue to try dog food it will miraculously become delicious at some point. They prefer their shoes on the wrong feet and it's the end of the world if you don't let them drink their bath water. Drink, cough, make a terrible face, repeat. Or is this just my son??

My mom always said in order to reason with someone you have to be able to think they do. How in the hell am I supposed to reason with a tiny human that wants to eat dog food and drink bath water?! I prefer cold filtered water over warm dirty bath water so clearly my son and I are not on the same page. This is where I've learned to pick my battles. If you can't reason with them pick and choose the battles that are worth fighting.

Drinking bath water is a hard no for me. I will let WWIII play out with this one, but if you don't mind your child drinking their bath water then cheers!

Shoes on the wrong feet, I'm indifferent on. It's probably not the best for their little feet and development, but it's also probably not the worst either. If I run into you at the grocery store and see little Suzie with her shoes on the wrong feet, no judgement here.

I apparently have no problem with eating dog food. Although it took far more taste testing than I would like to admit, my son no longer tries to eat it. He still wants to play with it so it's all over my floors, all the time, but he's not ingesting it. I'll call that a win. If you were able to keep your kiddos out of the pet dishes I will happily take your advice.

Although most of my days consist of picking my battles with my son, I'm loving every minute of it. I wouldn't trade that dog food eating, shoes on the wrong feet wearing, bath water drinking kiddo for the world.

Pick your battles, Mama.

Fran