Slight of Hand

Do you remember your picky eater? It seems like most moms have at least one of those in their brood. The stomach was too full for anymore of the meal that was set before them but there was ALWAYS room for dessert. So it is with my dad.

Glancing toward my father's plate I note that he has perhaps one bite left of his grilled cheese sandwich. I also note that the bites he is now taking are bird bites which means that he is running out of interest in his lunch. These days trying to get him to eat a reasonable meal is becoming harder and harder. His appetite seems to be getting smaller and smaller and even the small portions offered to him do not get completely finished. BUT sure enough. There is always room for a few cookies followed by a few pieces of candy, or whatever else satisfies the sweet tooth.

"Pop I see you just have one more bite of your sandwich left. Can you just finish that and I'll get you some cookies?" I encourage. Looking straight ahead, as innocent as a lamb he takes one more bird bite and then, like a magician, slight of hand the last chunk disappears. I know this trick. Going over to him I offer to take his napkin for him and inside I find the remaining bread and cheese rolled up ready for him to toss into the garbage when he leaves the table. (Did your kids ever do this?) I re-offer the last bite and suggest again that if it "disappears" into his mouth, he'll get his dessert. After one more bird bite, he takes a swath across his face with his new napkin ending the charade with a clenched fist. This time that last bite is hiding in his fist. But at this point I am feeling like the grilled cheese sandwich policewoman and decide to refrain from giving him a citation. I hand him the bag of cookies. He digs in. Pretty soon I see him in the living room enjoying the salt water taffy that I purchased this morning. Kids!