| I have never had a problem being first. | | | | tasting casserole that is similar |
| As a kid, my last name began with "W" so | | | | looking to the delicious one. A |
| I was almost always at the end of the | | | | timesaving tip is to save a little on |
| line. This created an unnatural desire | | | | your plate to show the kids before you |
| to move up, especially in buffet lines. | | | | send them up. My teacher training was |
| It is a wonder to me why people are so | | | | right - visual aids are so handy and do |
| timid to be the first to go through the | | | | increase comprehension! |
| buffet line. I am always happy to | | | | The beauty of sending your kids is that |
| oblige. I consider it helping out the | | | | one thinks badly of a growing boy |
| hostess who has spent hours preparing. I | | | | getting seconds. A growing mom, now |
| don't want her to be insulted by picky | | | | that's another story. A cute little girl |
| eaters, so I am glad to do this favor | | | | just has to smile in the seconds line |
| and happily get things going. The | | | | and adults melt. The improbability of a |
| hostess is always grateful. God knows | | | | 5-year-old getting a second helping of |
| how I like to please other people. | | | | broccoli casserole doesn't even register |
| At events where table numbers are called | | | | a second thought. In fact, most say, |
| to the buffet in any particular order, | | | | "Ooo, she even likes vegetables. She is |
| children are often open and honest about | | | | a special child." The truth is she |
| their hunger in clearly audible tones. | | | | lives on peanut butter and hot dogs, but |
| Right after the blessing is usually | | | | I always agree. |
| quiet and a properly timed "Mommy, my | | | | If you have young children who can't |
| tummy hurts I'm so hungry" has been | | | | speak understandably yet, you can take |
| known to accelerate your number in the | | | | them up for seconds with you and ask |
| table selection process. My children | | | | dutifully, "Is THIS what you wanted, |
| learned this from watching other kids do | | | | Sweetie?" but be careful. When they get |
| it while they sat waiting. Let me tell | | | | old enough to talk clearly, it is |
| you how quickly they will horn in too - | | | | possible they could blurt out "I hate |
| if not properly supervised, of course. | | | | date rolls!" This makes it as |
| While waiting for our turn to eat hones | | | | transparent as a sautéed onion exactly |
| the virtue of patience, I do have a | | | | who the seconds are really for, so get a |
| problem getting seconds. Going up for | | | | good feel for just how intelligible your |
| them can make a person feel like a | | | | child's speech is to others before you |
| glutton. Others start to look at the | | | | try this. |
| size of your thighs and say to | | | | Some may think it isn't right that to |
| themselves, "Ah, that is why they are | | | | send a child to camouflage one's |
| the size of hams." I might be paranoid, | | | | embarrassment at getting second |
| but the sound of high heels worn with | | | | helpings, but my kids like running |
| wedding and baptism attire seem to | | | | errands for me. (Did I mention that I |
| punctuate and draw attention to one's | | | | let them get a second dessert if they go |
| return engagement to the buffet line for | | | | up for me?) |
| the whole crowed, clicking out "eat, | | | | Back at our own dinner table, the kids |
| eat, eat" all the way home. | | | | cash in their "errands" for me for a few |
| That is why I celebrate the times my | | | | free passes doing dishes. We all get |
| children are with me at these special | | | | what we want, and it has given me the |
| occasions. They don't mind being | | | | opportunity to explain some time honored |
| dutifully sent to get seconds. I give | | | | sayings in a meaningful way. For us, it |
| them explicit directions on what item I | | | | all works out in the wash. |
| want as I may end up with the bad | | | | |