Hero

Sometimes my kids surprise, even shock me. This evening was one of those times. You may know from past blogs or even our most recent Christmas letter that for years now Dallin's least favorite time of day has been dinner time. No matter what I've fixed for the past two to three years, if it had the title "dinner," Dallin despised it. He much prefers "kid" food, like chicken nuggets, french fries, ramen noodles, PB&J, macaroni and cheese-you get the picture. We've had many dinners that involved crying, gagging and even the occassional throwing up. But we've stuck to our guns and had a hard and fast rule that he is given a little bit of everything and then must finish his plate, especially if he wants anything else to eat later [like ice cream, one of his very favorites along with donuts, cookies, fruity candy and all other sugar-laden anti-health foods. To his defense, he also loves fruit (could it be the sweetness?), especially apples.] On a few occassions his big sister Alexis has felt so bad for him that she's come to his rescue and finished his dinner for him just so he wouldn't have to miss out on a special treat. However, dinner time has gotten a little bit easier for Dallin lately--I think he's finally realized he was fighting a losing battle--and he has recently begun to finish his dinner without much complaint.

Dallin, standing next to Trista's plate of unfinished food.

This evening was like most others. Tonight I served spaghetti, and Dallin was having a bit of a hard time finishing his plate. Trista was having an even harder time, and the rest of us were finished and up doing dishes while the two of them were still at the table. Finally Dallin finished, and as he rinsed his plate I told him that he could have an ice cream sandwich for dessert. Trista's ears perked up at that, but still, she just couldn't make herself finish. She was whining and crying about how she couldn't eat but she wanted ice cream and so on. I was quite successfully tuning her out. Dallin ate his ice cream sandwich, and then to my amazement walked over to the table and began eating Trista's dinner for her! When he finished he said, "There Trista! You can have an ice cream sandwich now!" My heart just melted. What a sacrifice for Dallin, who could barely choke down his own dinner, to finish his little sister's for her so she could have the ice cream sandwich she wanted. And what an example Alexis has been in the past to do the same for Dallin. It's nice to see signs that they actually do love each other--a lot! What sweet kids! I'm so grateful for moments like these.