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  Sunday, June 24, 2007

Mexican Hamburger???

We were having lunch today at a Mexican restaurant, and I overheard the server bringing two hamburgers to the young boys at the next table. (Obviously, we weren't at Hostile Baltazar's.)

It made me chuckle, kids ordering hamburgers in a Mexican restaurant. When I was a kid, I ordered a hamburger whenever my parents took me to a restaurant I hadn't been to before. Because I was afraid.

My parents grew up during the Great Depression. They both grew up poor. The Depression left an Impression on them. We didn't waste money. I got socks and sweaters as presents. We didn't waste food. I had to finish the food that was served to me.

Always.

If I didn't like the food, too bad. If the meat had gristle and I could barely chew it, too bad. As a result, I was afraid to try new food because if I didn't like it, I still had to finish it. For a long time, I didn't even realize why I was afraid to try new things, I just knew it struck fear in my heart.

When I reached about eight or nine years old, I came to realize the root of the problem. When my mother tried to get me to eat something new, I started saying, "I don't want to, because if I don't like it I still have to finish it." After that, she became more lenient about letting me bail on food I didn't like.

Sometimes children can teach their parents.


Posted by Dave    Blog Tag: Chatter

3 Comments:

At 6/25/2007 12:43 AM, Blogger Melissa said...

All of my life and even to this day, my mom has always said, "You don't have to finish that." Even though she also grew up during the depression, her concern was that I stay nice and slender. That meant not eating everything in front of me. Leaving half a plate of food behind was not just okay, but encouraged.

 
At 6/25/2007 3:24 PM, Blogger Debra said...

What did I teach you? ;)

 
At 6/26/2007 11:55 AM, Blogger dkgoodman said...

Smart mother, Melissa. :)

You taught me to be careful what I said in front of impressionable ears, Deb. ;)

 

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