See this broccoli? It's mine, all mine
“I really want this piece of broccoli,” I say. “It’s so perfect and delicious and I want to eat it up as soon as I drink this water. Could you keep it safe for me?”
My child nods seriously and promises to watch over the broccoli. There is no way he will let anyone else near it, he avers.
I turn away for my sip of water.
“Oh no!” I cry, seeing that the broccoli is no longer on his plate being kept safe. “WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BROCCOLI?!”
“I ate it.”
Tags: broccoli, dinner, family game, kids and food
© 2009 Mothering Magazine
Love it! Unfortunately, this never worked at our house. . .
Clever. Love that! The broccoli thief.
My favorite high-chair trick we call ‘Bock-bock.’ I step behind the chair, put my thumbs in my armpits, and flap the resulting wings, squawking ‘Bock-Bock? bockbock. Bock-Bock? bockbock’ while the highchair’s current occupant turns from side to side looking for me. I slide slowly to one side, and when my child’s head spins around to look right at me, I exclaim, ‘BOCKBOCKBOCKBOCKBOCK!’ and peck at their food before they can shoo me away. In theory this makes them envy me their food, though in practice it’s mostly a hilariously fun game to amuse them.
I could just see the scene, and it took me back to a similar game I played with my children. Thanks for the reminder!
Awesome trick. I’ve got to try this one.
I remember doing this!! I also remember when it stopped working…:)
Love it! We, too, have a broccoli trick. I tell my kids that they are NOT to eat their broccoli because these are the “last trees in the whole entire world.” And we musn’t kill the very last trees in the whole entire world. So then, of course they eat the last trees with absolute gusto while I feign shock and horror.
Only one of my 4 won’t fall for this…she won’t even look at broccoli.
Love your blog, Jennifer!