Updated: June 17, 2018
Originally Published: April 19, 2017
I like to think of myself as a pretty capable mom. My kids are happy and healthy by the end of the day. Their bellies are full, they’re clean, and they’ve had their vaccinations. I can see how this might make other parents feel a bit envious, as my children are well taken care of and avoiding the usual childhood illnesses, but honestly, I’m just nailing this parenting gig right now. You might even say I’m a Supermom—no, let’s go with Batmom.
However, I would be fibbing if I claimed that my parenting approach hasn’t loosened up just a smidge since my second child arrived. I was warned this would happen. People kept saying, “Just wait, Emily,” but I thought, “Not me!” I was determined to treat my second child the same way I had my first. I envisioned photo albums filled with pictures, peaceful nights of sleep, and plates brimming with vegetables.
But here we are, a year later.
My firstborn had monthly photos in a special chair to capture his growth. The second? No chair in sight. The first had a grand themed first birthday bash with family flying in from all over; the second got a Twinkie in her high chair when grandma visited. While the first enjoyed homemade baby food, artfully blended to preserve color and nutrients, the second child is living on a diet of… well, bread and cheese.
Before you panic, I’m really trying! Life has just gotten a lot busier, and spending thirty minutes coaxing boiled carrots into a stubborn baby’s mouth is falling further down my to-do list. But don’t think she has a dull diet; it’s just a carb and dairy extravaganza! Breakfast features raisin toast and mozzarella sticks, lunch is cheese crackers and juice, and dinner? You guessed it—pizza! While she may be carb-loading, I like to think she’s developing a cultured palate.
I had all the best intentions. My food processor was ready, and I had butternut squash prepped, but then my second child arrived and laughed as if to say, “Nope, I’ll pass on that. Cheez-It, please!” I watch in envy as those mythical children munch on whole broccoli stalks and sliced peppers. If only I could achieve that without resorting to veggie-shaped cookie cutters and cheese toast.
I’ve made every effort. I’ve whipped up fettuccine alfredo with chicken and peas—she only eats the noodles. Shrimp Caesar salad? Just the croutons for her. Full English breakfast? Yep, you guessed it—bread and cheese.
In a moment of desperation, I took her to the pediatrician, fearing my Batmom title might be revoked. The appointment was going well; my little girl was thriving and hitting milestones like a champ (not that I’m bragging). This gave me the courage to bring up my concerns about her lack of vegetables.
“Doctor, I’m worried about her veggie intake,” I confessed.
“Oh? What’s she eating?” the doctor asked.
“Well, a variety—crackers, cheese, toast, more cheese, bread, and pizza,” I admitted sheepishly.
The doctor chuckled, pausing with the stethoscope. “I wouldn’t stress too much; she won’t eat like that in college. Just try to add some color to her meals. If it’s still an issue next year, we can address it.”
Just add some color, huh? Sounds easy enough. So off I went to the grocery store, determined to introduce more greens into her diet. I filled my cart with apples, squash, peas, green beans, and even kale chips. Today was the day Second Baby would experience the First Baby treatment!
When my husband walked in with our eldest, the kitchen looked like a cooking show gone awry.
“What’s for dinner?” he asked, eyeing the chaos.
“This is for the baby,” I replied, chopping more squash. “We need to get more color in her diet.”
I tossed a carrot onto her tray. She picked it up, grimaced, and tossed it aside. A pea? Same reaction. Broccoli? Vomit emoji face. Butternut squash? You get the idea.
“I just can’t figure this out!” I exclaimed. “Why won’t she eat more colors?”
In the midst of my frustration, my three-year-old marched over, brandishing a half-open bag of colorful snacks. “Look, Mommy! Holland loves colorful food!” he announced, tossing the treats onto the high chair tray.
To my surprise, the baby beamed, grabbed a snack, and happily crunched away. It might not be the conventional route, but I’m counting this as a win. At least we managed to add some color to her diet!
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Summary
In the humorous recounting of parenting challenges, the author reflects on how her approach has changed since the arrival of her second child. While she aimed to provide a varied and nutritious diet similar to her firstborn’s, the reality is that her second child thrives on an uncomplicated diet of carbs and dairy. Despite efforts to introduce vegetables, the toddler’s preferences lean heavily towards familiar comfort foods. A lighthearted twist comes when her firstborn helps her incorporate color into the baby’s meals, proving that parenting is often about adaptability and humor.