Speed Bump

We were craving sushi Saturday night. We had just left a Halloween party at Union Station's Science City so the kids were in their costumes. Why not? This was one of those nights when we had a really pleasant dinner out, just the four of us. Both kids ate really well and behaved, though Izzy did start yelling a bit. She just likes to hear the sound of her own voice sometimes - and she can get loud! Watching Charlie enthusiastically eat edamame, tempura sweet potatoes, rice and miso soup (he wanted more of the miso soup once it was gone), I am reminded that kids can be taught to like and enjoy a variety of flavors and tastes. At home it seems like he prefers PB&J to anything else I fix and it gets frustrating. But out to dinner at a sushi restaurant, he basically didn't turn anything down and even wanted to try some of Ryan's sashimi (we told him he wouldn't like it, but we probably should have let him try it).  So what gives? We were all eat...

Charlie loves to 'help' at home. He learns this from school where everyone helps clean up, puts away dishes after lunch, etc. So now after dinner he takes his dishes to the sink and then likes to help wash them. I am not going to discourage this great behavior, even if it does mean some water on the floor and rewashing the dishes later myself. We have to start somewhere! Izzy is fascinated by the dishwasher and it is the perfect height for cruising around. Now, if I could only get them doing the laundry...