Mamapedia City Voices highlights the inside scoop on your city by selected writers, from up-and-coming mom bloggers to well-known mom experts.
The Princess and the Hot Dog Bun: A Short Story About Choosing Your Battles
Once upon a time, there was a little princess who was three years old. Let’s call her Princess Lulah. She lived with her brothers and sisters, her daddy, The King, and her mommy, the Mean Queen, whom we’ll call Moi.
One morning, Princess Lulah woke up and went into the kitchen, where her mommy, Moi, was preparing lunches for her children to take to school. Lulah spied something on the kitchen counter.
“I want that for breakfast,” she said to her mommy, pointing to the package.
“You can’t have that for breakfast! Those are hot dog buns!” Moi replied.
“But I want one!” Princess Lulah said.
“No, absolutely not,” said Moi.
“But I want one!” insisted the little Princess, stamping her pretty little princess foot.
“Hot dog buns are NOT for breakfast. You may have cereal or waffles. Which will it be?” asked Moi.
“I want THAT!” demanded Princess Lulah.
Moi opened her mouth to sternly repeat to the little Princess that she could not have a hot dog bun for breakfast…and then suddenly, I—er, Moi—realized, “What’s the big deal? Why can’t she have a hot dog bun for breakfast? It’s whole wheat, and really no different than toast after all.”
So she let Princess Lulah have a hot dog bun for breakfast. And sunshine poured in through the windows, a dazzling rainbow appeared right over their very house, and the angels sang. And Moi lived in peace and harmony with her children from that day forward.
Okay, that last part? Not really. But the rest? I’m just saying.
Lisa is a forty-something SAHM to six children, including two gifted, a pair of twins, a precocious pre-schooler, and a toddler with Down syndrome. She is married to her best friend, a brilliant attorney, talented musician, and cancer survivor.
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Veronica Cash, September 7, 2010
That was so sweet. I am a mother of four, and sometimes I feel like the meen mommy. I just want my children to have rules and regulations .
Joanne T, September 7, 2010
Too funny - I think we have all been there - meat balls for breakfast any one?
Peg M., September 7, 2010
So many of the things we withhold from or force upon our kids really don't make sense if we stop to consider. We just repeat the "rules" that we learned. Life can be so much happier ever after. For kids, and for parents, too.
Nice story!
Kris K, September 8, 2010
Some of my favorite memories are the times I decided to just love and enjoy my kids and not worry about the rules. It leads to some interesting places. My son, who is now almost 35, treasures the 18 months that I let him have electric blue hair while he was in high school. He didn't drink or smoke or get into trouble. He just wanted to be unique, and what high schooler doesn't? Now he's happily married and working his way thru adulthood, but we still smile when we remember...
Adrienne, September 9, 2010
I remember have a similar conversation with my princess who insisted on having a turkey and cheese sandwich for breakfast....The light went on in my head - it had protein and whole grains and who's to say sandwiches aren't for breakfast...LOL
Clare, September 13, 2010
Loved the article.
Even more impressive? You have SIX kids and find time to write?? Wowzers!
Simona, September 13, 2010
I remember a stage my brother went through (he is 12 years younger than me) when he would put ketchup on absolutely EVERYTHING he ate (except for ice-cream). It used to drive my Mom to distraction because she was born in Italy, is a very good cook and hates ketchup!! After a few weeks of fights I thought to ask him why he felt it necessary to smother everything in ketchup...
Luciana, September 13, 2010
Ohh I totally relate to it! My 2 year old boy instead of his oatmeal breakfast sometimes just want bread with butter, ham and cheese... How can I say NO if this is what I eat in the morning? And he feels so proud of himself when he spread the butter on his bread...
So...sometimes he has " adult" breakfast ( as I call it) and sometimes he loves his oatmeal and eat by himself with his little spoon.....
joanne c, September 13, 2010
Yeah, my son would eat fruit snacks all day if I let him.
but childaren are great!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Angela, September 13, 2010
I can't even count on one hand how many times my daughter has had spagettios or mac/cheese for breakfast. Heck I eat left over pizza, so why not!
Pam, September 13, 2010
I love the story my daughter hit me with the pizza for breakfast and I thought that was just crazy but I realized at least she was eating something for breakfast on those we called quirky days. My granddaughter eats catsup on anything.
Sallie R., September 13, 2010
When My oldest (now 32) was a little girl, and we'd go out for lunch or dinner, her choice for dessert was a salad. The waitress would invariably look at me and ask, "Is that ok?" I of course would say yes. Can my daughter have a nice healthy salad instaed of a fat and sugar laden dessert? Hello!
Mary, September 13, 2010
Good call! As long as it's easy and healthy who cares? I just hope you don't refer to your girls as "princesses" in real life. That grates my nerves...
Jennifer, September 13, 2010
"Eggs! Eggs are in chocolate cake. And milk! Oh, goodie! And wheat! That's nutrition! "What do you want?" "Can I have some chocolate cake?" "Chocolate cake coming up!" Bill Cosby - Himself, 1983
Kathy, September 13, 2010
Cudos to you! I once crossed this hurdle and have since come to realize that if it is a healthy lunch or dinner item that they desire for breakfast, so be it, at least they're eatting!
