Dinnertime discussion

This is a conversation happening at any table at any house in any city anywhere in the world at any given dinnertime with any particular family with children.

Son: Can I have dessert?

Dad: You need to eat some meat first.

Son: I diiiiid.

Dad: Where? I still see a whole bunch of meat on your plate.

Son: See. Right. There. *points to sliver of vacancy on plate*

Dad: You didn't eat enough. Eat more of your meat.

Son: But I don't like the meat.

Dad: If you want dessert, you'll eat the meat.

Son: Well how many bites do I need to eat to get dessert?

Dad: Start eating and I'll tell you when you've eaten enough.

Son: *takes on bite, gags for good measure* Is that enough?

Dad: No.

Son: But Daaaaaaad.

Dad: Son, you have to eat some meat. It gives you protein which helps build muscle.

Son: Well I'd rather have cereal which gives me fiber and makes me poop.

Dad: - - -

But this is our house in our town at our table at our dinnertime with our family where no discussion ends without someone at the table being left a little dumfounded. And by someone, I mean one of us parents.

Comments

[Crystal Edwards]

Honest, we had a similar one tonight with the 3-year old boy. Only instead of "poop," he said he'd have to fart first to make room for the extra meat.

And then did. Loudly.

[Kristen]

OMG, that's all sorts of awesome!

[Jess]

Okay, so I'm taking notes to plan on cooking cereal for dinner so I can get a poop reference in at the dinner table...

[Ewokmama]

What you should have asked him was, "How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat??"

[Kat]

Ewokmama beat me to it. I just had Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall" jump in my head! "YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YOUR MEAT!"

[Saffron 77]

Ewokmama and Kat beat me to it... That's exactly what we say when this happens at our house and the kids look at us like we've lost our minds... makes the whole discussion worthwhile...

[DawnA]

I am a grown up with a 21 year old child and we joke in my family that all coversations at dinner turn to poop. But the word we use is the grown up version. Hmmm, reevaluating the term "grown up".

[Futureblackmail]

It's nice to know other parents are tranced into stupor by their kids. :)

[Tiffany]

This is just like our house (with our 3YO at least)! She doesn't just gag, though. She makes herself yak. It is such a drama routine! We bribe her with Junior Mints, so after each bite she asks how many more til she gets the Junior Mints. Here's hoping they grow out of it at some point! :)

[Jen]

DAMMIT!! I DEMAND that you remove the hidden video cameras from our dining area THIS INSTANT!!!!!!!!!! You are obviously using my kids as source material for your silly musings on teh interwebs...

And yeah, my husband laid the Pink Floyd reference on my 6 yr old and 3 yr old. The 3 yr old said "We have pudding?" and the 6 yr old said "Who's Floyd and why is he pink? Is he a princess?"

True story.

**SIGH**

[WarsawMommy]

Hee! That is one smart kid. Also, a good arguer. Future lawyer, perhaps?

[The Mother]

Candid dinner table discussions are important teaching opportunities. For both sides.

[sarah]

Ha! It's almost impossible to argue with a kid.

[Rewritingkel.wordpress.com]

This honestly made me giggle, but there have been similar discussions at our table. But really, how can you argue with him? :)