I Get By With Some Helpings From My Kids

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