Toddling.

So, after last weekend's glorious adventure on the Washington Coast, I seem to have attained a new, fresh outlook on parenting, work, eating... ok everything! Yes, I know this feeling will fade. But my motivation doesn't have to.

My friend Tarena always has great stuff on her blog. She recently posted a link to another blog about the "No Spend Month."... an AWESOME idea. I followed more and more links till I came up with this list. Credit goes to the author of preschoolmama.com. She is a former Montessori preschool teacher, and someone with great advice for many things.

We have been having problems with getting Ian to eat food (yes, ANY food!), stay in his bed at bedtime, potty training, constant whiiiinnning... you name it, he's going through it. They don't call it the terrible 2's and 3's for nothing!

Here's a GREAT list of food suggestions from Preschool Mama (she refers to the child as "her" but I guarantee you, my Ian is no "her":

1. Try other ways of getting her to eat her veggies. Puree lightly cooked mixed vegetables, and use them as sandwich spread.
2. Lower your expectations. We all know how great broccoli is for bright sparkling eyes, but if the only vegetable she eats is beet , that’s fine too.
3. Have a list of foods by the refrigerator, consisting of foods that she can eat without having to ask you. Include all her favorite fruits, nuts, and healthy snacks. Having her preferences listed out will make her feel important, and encourage her to reach for an apple or raisins, whenever she feels those pangs.
4. Use a sticker chart to reward her for vegetables eaten that day. Avoid cash treats - here’s a reward system that works even better.
5. Use portion sizes based on her age. She has to eat as many mouthfuls or spoonfuls of veggies as her age. Calculations like these make sense to a child.
6. It’s okay to choose unusual substitutes when she’s having a particularly fussy day. Ice cream over cereal works as well as milk.
7. Compromise if she’s addicted to sugar bomb cereals. Mix unsweetened cereal with sweetened. She gets her sugar fix, and eats the more nutritious cereals too.
8. Occasionally, change your dining setting to make things fun. Eat on plastic trays, or pie tins. Eat lunch in the garden or the balcony.
9. Above all, quit fighting over food. If there are some things she has a natural dislike for, let them go and find substitutes.

I love the idea of presenting "ok" foods on the bottom shelf that Ian can grab any time. Foods I'm choosing: Yogurt, Fruit, Veggies, and pre-cut cheese!

I'm going to start with that, then move on to all the other battles we're going through. Heck at least if my kid's happy and well fed, I'm doing a pretty good job.