Dinner Madness!

Get the bib, sit the kid down in the highchair with a plate of kiwi bits. Sit. Get up, get the sippy cup. Sit. Get up, get a washcloth, wash the kid's hands. Sit. Get up. Kid doesn't want kiwis, wants grapes. Get up, cut grapes. Sit and have a sip of coffee. It's cold. Get up get more coffee. Kid wants more grapes. Cut more grapes. Sit. Husband can't find the cheese. Get up, find the cheese. Sit. One more sip of lukewarm coffee.

How did I get here? The other day I was so distracted trying to cook a meal and entertain my two year old that I practically ate a plastic wrapper. No more insanity meals! Here's are some habits I lost along the way while making purees and multitasking:

1. First of all, make all meals with love. Love choosing it, washing and preparing it, combining colors and textures, experimenting with it, and tasting it. Serve it as if it was art.

2. Involve anyone else who wants to love making this meal, especially the kid.

3. Set the table. Place EVERY thing you might need; including a pitcher of water and glasses, serving utensils, condiments, napkins, bibs and washcloths. Bring lots of food to the table so that you don't have to get up for seconds.

4. Make it look nice. I've been using candles, tulips, and bowls I made in pottery class.

5. Invite other hungry people. We invited the toy rabbit today for tea and toast.

6. Give the kid a snack before dinner and that's it. No more until we sit down even if the kid screams. I prepare one easy back up meal option like fruit, yogurt or leftover noodles, but I no longer cook a whole other meal just for the kid.

5. Like the expression says: Bring something to the table. A smile, a funny story, something you are grateful for, a found treasure from nature like a nice rock or a leaf, a joke, a compliment, or a blessing.
 
6. Everyone helps to clean up. Even the kid.

For more wonderful suggestions to make meals more enjoyable for everyone, read "The Family Dinner-Great ways to connect with your kids, one meal at a time." by Laurie David.

Daddy's Fish Stew in Grandma's dutch oven. Yum!