We had no dinner food in our house last night since I didn't go grocery shopping last weekend, so we went out to eat. We headed for a local pizza joint, but once we got there we saw at least 8 people waiting for tables. There are only about 8 tables in the whole place, so we decided to just go to Giant Eagle for dinner. Going to the grocery store probably sounds like a strange option, but the kids love the idea that they can choose whatever they want in the little deli that is there. While we were having dinner, I decided to broach what I thought would be a very difficult subject. I related my story of having been to the grocery store the day before just to pick up a few things when I made it to the cereal aisle. I picked up a bag of generic Fruity Pebbles. I love Fruity Pebbles, and it fit right in with what I usually buy. Having just cut out sugar from my diet, I looked at the bag and decided I didn't want all that sugar.
When the kids were younger, I got into the habit of buying them sugared cereal. I don't know if I bought it once as a treat and it morphed into buying all sugared cereals or if I decided to let them have sugared cereals because I didn't eat many as a child. It could be that they are the ones that go on sale most of the time. Whatever the reason, in my mind, I figured asking them to gradually wean themselves from the sugared cereals was going to be like I was slowly cutting off their arms.
I ventured forth with my suggestion. Keep in mind, it was just a week ago that I told them no more pop, diet or otherwise. They wondered what they could possibly eat if they weren't allowed to eat sugared cereal. Nate asked if Cinnamon Toast Crunch was a healthy choice. Um, no, Nate, they're not. It didn't seem it was going to be an easy switch, especially when Paige, in the middle of the produce department, said to me, "You can't tell a kid she can't have sugar." I chuckled and said, "If I'm their mom I can." A lady nearby laughed.
Once we made it to the cereal aisle it was time for decisions. Nate was happy he could have his Honeycomb. There is a lot less sugar in that than the stuff they had been eating. Jacob was thrilled he could have Rice Chex. Every time I put one of the "new" cereals into our cart, Paige made a gagging noise. Her issue, I'm pretty sure, was not so much I was taking away the sugar, but that I was taking away the sugar. I was making that decision. She is a very strong-willed, independent child, and she doesn't like it when decisions are made for her. Oh well, she is only 9. It is still my job to teach her what is right. Once I made it to the dairy aisle she decided to make her own decision about which cereal she would eat. So, she went back to the cereal aisle with her dad and chose one which she taste-tested when we got home. You'd have thought we let her have a huge piece of cake with sugar sprinkled on top. She couldn't stop raving about this new, healthier cereal. That went better than I expected it to. God has once again honored my effort to do what is right with my children. Now if I could just get them to exercise a little bit more.
