Both of the girls are very selective eaters.  I would say they were picky, but I am not convinced that their refusal to eat things has anything to do with whether they like a food or not.  I think it has more to do with what mood they are in.  I guess we are all like that to a point, but at least from my perspective their “selectiveness” is extreme.  I feel this way because it seems to be every day and every meal (breakfast might be the one exception, but that is probably because they get to pick from the choices in the house almost every day).

I do not claim to be a gourmet chef, and I cook out of necessity instead of enjoyment, but my food is good.  However, the reaction I typically get to telling them I am going to cook is from one of the below selections:

• Really?
• Can we pick what we want instead of eating that?
• I don’t like that (mind you I haven’t told them what it is)

So I was amazed this week when we came home from work and camp and I cooked a meal which was not only accepted, but devoured.  This was not a magnificent new option, it was the same stuff that I have cooked on many of the occasions where I received one of the above responses.  I never figured out what the difference was, but whatever caused it, I am grateful.  I always worry if they get enough food so am thrilled that it worked out.  Now to figure out how to repeat.  

Vera has been quite the challenge lately.  I am sure it has a lot to do with the end of the school year and the changes in routine that go with it,  The melt downs have increased and she seems to be having a hard time managing her emotions.  I have been talking to the therapist about tools to help her calm down.  

We finally had success last night when she was upset because AJ got a lamp for her bedroom and Vera did not get one also.  After quite a  while of trying to hug her and talk to her it finally occurred to me that the bean bag chair that the therapist had suggested and I was trying to implement might help.  The idea is that cuddling into the chair feels like being hugged.  I got it from the living room (the girls were already in bed) and put it on her bed.  She climbed on to it, snuggled down and immediately calmed down.  

She eventually went to sleep on the bean bag chair and slept all night.  Yay!!  I am very hopeful that this may be a new tool for helping her calm herself down.  I will take any help I can get!

For the second time so far this summer we spent a relaxing day on the beach with good friends.  While we are there, we (I say “we”, really I shouldn’t take any credit as my friend does all of the work) set out fishing poles to try to catch some fish while we play.  Vera decided to take it a step further this time and suggested that I catch a fish with my hands (maybe my punishment for not owning more of the work with the poles).  

I took the opportunity to have some fun with Vera and splash her.  I would pretend like I was going to grab a fish and then splash her with the water.  I figured she would tire of the game quickly and not want to be splashed.  Boy was I wrong.  Instead of complaining about being splashed she just laughed and then tried to teach me how to catch the fish.  She would tell me to get on my knees in the water, then show me to cup my hands.  I would follow along but end up splashing her with water each time.  

After being splashed she would laugh and tell me I was doing it wrong, so I would tell her to show me again.  We must have played this game for over an hour all together.  

I am sure I will be in trouble some day in the future if I don’t expand the story to include the “sea monsters”.  Another silly game that became a huge hit with the girls.  Seaweed that floated by became the “sea monster” and was thrown back and forth trying to hit the target.  Most of the time we missed, but everyone enjoyed the occasional hits.

It is such a joy to see the girls have fun.  These are the times when I recognize all of our blessings and thank god for bringing us all together to make this unique family (with such wonderful friends).