Eating Shrimp for Money

Well Daddy and Grandma have figured a way to get the kids to try new things. Last night we had a late Valentines celebration dinner of shrimp and scallops. Of course noses were turned, Jenna complained of the smell, but ate scallops with butter anyway. Nathan wouldn't try any. So Daddy said "I'll give you a dollar if you eat this bite". Boy were they excited when I told them they could spend it at Walmart on something. Between Grandma and Daddy, Nathan walked off with a total of $4.00 and Jenna $2.00 just for eating shrimp. Nathan picked out a new Ninja turtle and Jenna got a puppy pocket today. I have a feeling meals are going to get more expensive around here, but maybe they will find more food they like to eat for free.

Nathan told two elderly women in line in front of us that he got the money for his turtle because Daddy paid him to eat shrimp for dinner. They seemed a bit suprised and they were so friendly with Nathan and Jenna up to that point but then turned around and didn't talk to them anymore. Can you imagine what they thought, paying a child to eat shrimp, they themselves may have been lucky to have meat to eat when they were his age. I figured it wasn't worth it to explain to them that he never eats anything new, that looks of food turn him off, that we've tried everything and that I was impressed this worked. Let them think kids are spoiled and what's wrong with parents today. I can handle it.......

Because those same spoiled paid to eat shrimp kids spent nearly half an hour in the candy isles with me picking out Easter candy. Not once did they whine for candy, grab at the fancy colored boxes, but instead asked if different ones were on their diet while I carefully read the ingredients and labels. They put back what I said wasn't on the list and were happy with what I picked out; although Nathan expressed he'd like some white chocolate too. I'll have to find him some white chocolate yet. Of course my very sharp 5 year old, wanted to know why I was getting the candy instead of the Easter Bunny bringing it. I said that way if the Easter Bunny didn't bring the right kind of candy, mommy would have replacement candy. So much for spoiled, at least for today's trip.