Who gives a shit about broccoli?

The family dinner, at my house it goes something like this. Is it ready yet? When are we eating? What am I having?

That part about what am I having...there is a story behind this. I have never really been one of those mothers that makes you eat what is served for dinner (I tried it once after someone told me I was spoiling my kids, never tried it again). There have been many times when I have made three separate complete meals. One for the grownups, one for David and for Courtney. These days, David will eat the meat and bread portion but not the sides, so I make him mac and cheese for his side dish. Courtney has developed a grown up palate.

Now back to why I don't force my kids to eat whatever is served...I had this sister that was really picky as a child. She only wanted to eat peanut butter sandwiches. My parents would make her sit for hours at the table, I remember once it was midnight in front of a plate of spaghetti...she went to sleep in the spaghetti, literally in the spaghetti. But that is not the reason.

The reason is, the time my parents bought bar-b-que sandwiches for the family (this was eating out, it was a big deal). My sister was given her sandwich, you could see the disgust on her face. She pretended she was eating it (afraid she would get a spanking if she didn't). She went outside with it, her mistake was, she came back too soon. My parents went outside and found the sandwich in the bushes. They forced her to eat it with dirt, sticks and leaves on it. There was a lot of gagging and tears from her. And a lot of yelling and cursing from the parents.

I never understood that. They could have made her a peanut butter sandwich, saved themselves $5 and made the treat of bar-b-que sandwiches a pleasant experience for everyone else.

I don't want a bunch of comments of how I am limiting my children, I make them taste new things and make sure they get their ruffage as I refer to it (greenery).

I just don't understand making unpleasant memories at dinner time. Who really gives a shit if the kids eat broccoli? Give them green beans and get over it.