Just when I think they don’t listen to me, I’m proven wrong. Little did I know that a dinner date with my youngest last summer would change her eating habits.
Last summer, my oldest daughter had a late afternoon doctor appointment, which my wife took her to. Since it was late afternoon, we decided to split up for dinner. My youngest daughter and I went to a pub/restaurant that we take them to often because it was smoke free. Usually we get a table and order dinner. This time, my daughter wanted to sit at a ‘high’ table. Interesting watching a four year old (at the time) hop right up.
After looking at the menu, I told her that one of my favorite foods is chicken wings (look at the image of me in the rotating header above). When I was in my 20s, I spent every Thursday night at a downtown pub that had 10¢ wings. My buddies and I would slap down $10 and eat ourselves silly. The pub built a huge following by dedicating Thursday Wing night to NBC Must See TV. They would turn off the music and pipe Seinfeld and Friends (it was the 90s people) to all TVs and over the speakers. That place was packed every Thursday. I traveled for business about 50% at the time so many times I would get off of a flight and motor straight downtown rather than stopping home on Thursdays. Ah, to be able to make plans on a moment’s notice. This formative experience has me still salivating for wings.
I didn’t give her all of the 20 something details, but I assured her that they were good. So we ordered a split order of buffalo for me and plain for her. Well, she is my kid! She loved them. Not just because they were chicken, which she loves, but because they were a fun finger food to eat.
In the last few dinners that I’ve had with my dad, I’ve learned that he also likes wings a lot. DNA. Is there anything it can’t do?
She’s had wings a few times since then, but I never really thought much of it until last Thursday when we were at my sister’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. While I was carving the 20 pounder, my wife was assembling the kids’ plates. I carved the entire bird, with the exception of the two wings. I cut them off and was going to deal with them at the end. Well, my dad ended up getting one wing, and when my youngest saw him, she asked for the other one.
When I went to sit down at the table with the family, I was surprised to see my five year old with a Pterodactyl sized turkey wing up to her mouth. It was hilarious watching her tear into that huge wing. She has a big silly streak in her, but I don’t think getting laughs was her intention. I think she wanted to make eating fun, so she went with what she knew.
She’s officially a wing eater. Just trying to provide my kids with valuable life skills.
