What’s for dinner?

Flounder is defrosting now in the refrigerator. I have asparagus as a side dish along with a green salad. That will satisfy the grown-ups, the little ones are a little selective in what they eat. (That’s a nice way of saying they are picky.)

Susan will dip the fish in ketchup, but at least she’s eating it. Peter may try the flounder, but most likely he’ll stick to picking out the grape tomatoes from the salad. Edmund is difficult to predict. He chows at breakfast and lunch, so by dinner he is sometimes content with a liquid diet- chocolate milk. I suspect he will reject the food and spend most of the meal getting in and out of his chair. That’s what happens when you are almost three-years-old. Play is more important than food.

Getting any of them to try the asparagus will take coaxing and flat-out bribery.

I know the day is coming when dinner will not be an exercise in patience for Joe and I. No longer will we be cutting meat into little pieces. They will serve themselves without making a mess. I won’t have to vacuum under the table after a meal.

Part of me is happily looking forward to it. Doc and I could have a grown-up conversation without interuption; I wouldn’t have to wipe sticky faces or hands. The other part of me wants to hold on to this time forever. Once the children are older they might not be home for dinner due to sports, youth group or other activities that take a young person’s time.

For now I’ll use dinnertime for what it is, a time to teach my children to enjoy the food and our family. A time to be together.