He’s the last child at the dining room table, and last thing on his plate: a small pile of peas.
“Eat your peas, A. E.,” I say.
He looks at me, lips pressed closed, thin and tight.
“One bite. One bite and you’re done.”
No fork, no spoon, no knife. Just two fingers–index and thumb. Pinky raised delicately in the air. One pea, into his mouth.
He signs “all done.”
No, I sign back. More. More-more.
He takes another single pea, then another. All done?
More.
Another and another, until the small pile of peas is halved.
All done, I say.
Avery smiles, and out roll the peas, each one round and whole, intact, not even chewed.
oh Avery, you’re such a ham!
I love this Jennifer–what a little character Avery is!
Ohhhh how I love this kid. Don’t you know that peas are gross?
lol,
Jodi
I love Avery!!
That is hysterical! Kids are smarter than we give them credit for! I love this story!
Mikey has done exactly the same thing! Kids are just tooooo smart!
I love it!! How cute, what a smartie
Little stinker!
Sneaky. Not surprising either. I hated peas when I was a kid.
That is one smart sweet pea!!!
sounds like something my sister would do when she was little. she HATED peas!!!
lol!!! That is too cute!!! Paige believes that a meal consists of the amount of food she can shove in her mouth all at one time.
Perhaps I’d be thinner if I followed her philosophy!!
I can just picture that scenario. Adorable!
Ha Ha – I know exactly what you mean although thankfully peas and broccoli are about the only veges I can get Hannah to eat. Kit on the other hand prefers fruit and vegetables to meat – between them they have a very balanced diet.
Oh you gave me a good laugh with this post! I don’t like peas myself so I can understand not wanting to eat them!
Oh, I so know this child!
Eric just waves his hand dimissively when asked to do things, like consume peas, that are obviously beneath his dignity. “Talk to the hand”.
I’ve just been reminded that pea-hating is possibly a trait inherited from Tom, who as a little boy, was involved in a similar dining room scene…
Oh I love it!!!
DramaChild does the pinky thing as well! What a little character! He’s got you pinned down good! It’s amazing how they know how to maneuver what they want (or don’t want) out of us!
that is a RIOT!
what a guy. peas falling over laughing chin. a painting.
Hi there, I just started reading your blog and love it! RE: this post; your little A.E. is just so clever!
Pingback: Peas, revisited « Pinwheels
OK Jen….don’t know how I missed this post the first time around (I just read it yesterday for 1st time), but it has finally been the one to make me throw my hat into the blog ringl (u know I’ve been on the sidelines).
So moved was I by this delightful narrative and visual that I had the best dream in recent memory last night…I was back in highschool in Philadelphia, waiting for a big crew race (my heat was last), and I was with Avery at an underground pizza/disco joint on a busy road. He and I had peas under our tongues the whole time AND we were managing to eat Pizza and dance and show off. We had the best time, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I shall never eat peas the same way!
Sarah, I can think of no better person to hide peas, eat pizza, and dance around with than you, and Avery. Can I join you?
I laughed out loud! How adorable!
Pingback: The Thinking Blog Award « Prince Vince Meets the World