Frith O’Steen

So, readers of past entries in the Frith and Decker blog universe will perhaps recall that my son in loopy and loco for fruit. Sadly, he is particularly loopy and loco for fruit that is seasonal, so we can’t always get it for him. But the great thing about that is - when it does come back into season, he is so beside himself that he literally can be motivated to do anything you ask for the promised reward of fruit - specifically, strawberries and blueberries. I blame this addiction largely on his grandpa, my dad. The man is just silly for fruit. And he knows that my little guy is nuts for it too, so he always has some sort of special treat for him when we come over. (Plums, grapes, berries, you name it). It’s actually very sweet - I think sometimes Decker has been intimidated by my dad because of his size, but the two of them have truly bonded over nature’s bounty. Decker knows if he brings an orange to his grandpa that he will peel it for him, and the other night he was willing to do tricks for pieces of strawberry hidden in my dad’s hand! (ie: “Decker - can you be a scarecrow - you can have some strawberry…”, whereupon the child’s arms stick straight out practically before the sentence is finished!).

It is a good motivator though - but you have to be sure you have the goods on hand before you say their name! Today I told Decker it was lunch time and we were gonna have strawberries but we had to put all his toys away first (we were outside). You have never seen a toddler move so swiftly to put away bikes and wagons. He then sat promptly down with his little legs sitting straight out, calling “sooooooos, OFF, mama!” (shoes off, now mommy!). We go inside, and he streaks for the highchair, chanting “sahbeddah” over and over, and I go to the fridge to find….no strawberries. WHAT? I just bought some last night? Where are they where are they where are they? Sean put the groceries away, but maybe I forgot them in the shopping cart? Oh man I am practically ready to load the kid back in the car to go the store just to procure the promised produce, for I know the disappointment and angst that awaits me if I don’t cough them up right now. I call Sean, and he reassures me that he simply had put them in a hard to spot place for Decker (and his mom, thanks very much!). Ok, apoplectics fits averted - strawberries for all!

Kid still won’t eat cheese, peanut butter, or meat - but dang he loves his fruit. No scurvy in this house!