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waffling over syrup
My husband and I have been arguing about waffles. Or more accurately, the syrup.
Rick believes 14-month-old Summer should get waffles WITH syrup. In his opinion, waffles WITHOUT syrup is like mac without cheese, Brad without Jen Angelina or shake without the bake.
On the other side, I believe that Summer gets plenty of sugar the rest of the day (I view sweets as a fun let’s-get-in-the-stroller-and-be-happy motivator). Plus, our carb lovin’ younger daughter seems quite content with just a little butter on her waffles (Of course, I butter them! I’m not Mommy Dearest for god’s sake).
So how do we end this waffle war? Now, keep in mind, my record is clear. I always voted against the waffle war and Rick initially voted for the war but now wants to cut and run. Wait, that doesn’t make any sense. I think I’m watching too much primary election coverage.
While you are pondering all that, please enlighten me about another matter. Can my 3 1/2 year old actually hear me? This is how it works in my house.
Me: Dylan, what do you want for dinner?
Dylan: (silence)
Me: Dylan! What do you want for dinner?
Dylan: (silence)
Me: Dylan, can you hear me?
Dylan: (silence)
Me: Ok, if you can’t answer me then no books or “Sesame Street” tonight. And heck, while we’re at it, no dinner or dessert either.
Dylan: Grilled cheese.
In contrast, I wish I could tout my own stellar listening skills. But I really can’t. For example, when we go to a restaurant, and the waiter comes to tell us the specials, this is what I hear.
Waiter: Good Evening. Tonight we have the steamed artichoke for an appetizer… I wonder if we have to pay the babysitter’s cabfare home if we get back before 11 pm…. These spanks are really digging into my stomach. Would anyone notice if I pulled them down just a bit…. I really need a pedicure. Is there anyway to possibly bring two kids to a nail salon? No, that’s ridiculous. Hey that might be a money maker. A nail salon with a kid’s play area! Simply brilliant! Wait, actually that’s not good. All those chemicals… And for dessert we have a red velvet cake with a vanilla icing. Let me know if you have any questions.
Wait, what happened? I didn’t hear any of the specials! Is there a fish dish? A grilled sea bass or breaded halibut, by chance? Should I ask him to repeat it? Oh, he’s walking away. Damn. I’ll just order off the menu.
Dylan and I may need to work on our listening skills.
Meanwhile, let me update you on my zen go-with-the-crazy flow parenting techniques.
3 1/2 year-old Dylan continues to wear 14 month-old Summer’s sleep sacks to bed – EVERY NIGHT. Of course, I always try to tuck Dylan in without one. The other night she says to me, “Mommy, you ALWAYS forget my sleep sack.” Sorry girl. Don’t know what is wrong with me.
Then Dylan started wearing layers and layers of Summer’s clothing around the apartment.
And now she wears Summer’s clothing wherever we go. This is Dylan stuffed into Summer’s winter jacket.
You’ll notice the sleeves are just a smidge short and it’s all a bit snug.
Would you let your kid out like this? I’m either so chill or such a pushover. She can’t look that odd because she got THREE compliments in Starbucks on her outfit. Me? Not a one.
mama bird notes
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Kelcey – I must agree with Rick here. Who wants a dry waffle? Give the poor girl some syrup! And Dylan has always had such fashion sense. She may grow up and become a designer! Fabulous pic of her, by the way. Great smile! And she looks adorable!
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Sorry Kelc – - you know i love you but MUST side w/ Rick on this one. Who ever heard of waffles w/ out the syrup. I hope she gets syrup w/ her pancakes. While you're at it, I'm sure she'd love a little Captain Crunch too
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We do syrup at my house, but we argue about the butter. It's always something ….
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Syrup? Not till they know what the stuff is. I tried to keep little Josh's pre-two-year-old brain off the sugar food group since he didn't care or know about such pleasures (juice, jelly, sugared cereal, chocolate milk, etc. etc.) Now, he is a wise (and all sugar hyped up) 3 year old and there's no turning back. Take control while you still can…
And snack traps make any outfit cool…
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No syrup. Especially if she doesn't miss it for cryin' out loud!!
I think that Dylan looks really proud of her outfit! That makes me proud of her!!
That being said, I cringe when Clara mixes three different patterns of stripes in one outfit…
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I'm with you on this one, Kelcey. Until they know what they're missing why not avoid the extra sugar? I once yelled at Michael that he was turning Ava into a "sugar addict" because he gave her jelly on her toast (I later apologized). For me, the really difficult part of this issue is how can I eat my pancakes with syrup without letting Ava see.
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just say NO
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I haven't killed one of my 4 yet with a smidge of syrup nor have I turned any of them into sugar craving, low IQ'd couch potatoes. There is room for compromise. If syrup really bothers you (and I do understand this) what about a dash of cinnamon or powdered sugar? It makes a much bigger mess and my kids always were way diggin' on that!
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PS who's to say that Dylan isn't creating the fashion trend of tomorrow? I think she is tres fab. But then again I live in Hephzibah. Still love the blog.
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She likes to yank your chain. Forget to ask her what she wants for dinner, and she may stop doing it.
My husband is the condiment king, and my children love him for it. If it's just me at breakfast, they start whining, "Why can't we have maple syrup and applesauce and jelly on our oatmeal?" And I reply, "Because that's a Daddy thing, that's why." Of course, we're rarely at breakfast together…
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Waffles, and pancakes, need syrup.
Of course, if you really don't want to fll your toddler up with syrup, there are healthy alternatives. I just read an article in the latest Natural Health magazine…..you can always use things like fruit jams and such…then they are not so dry but the fruit is healthier than syrup.
And Dylan…total fashionista there.
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We do no toppings too. I buy the cinnamon waffels and no one here is missing anything. I agree there are so many other better ways to "use" sugar. I also can't stand for the kids (or me) to drink our calories so….
The clothes, my motto is you can't leave the house naked…..
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My three kids eat waffles all the time and I have never given them the option of syrup and they don't know the difference. To many sticky fingers in the morning if I give them syrup.
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I say no on the syrup until about age 2. (we just started using it with my youngest) It's kinda like ketchup, it's a food by itself for awhile and I can't stand that.
Dylan is adorable!
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So true about the specials at the restaurant, I miss them every time! Sometimes our mulittasking skills just get in the way of our listening!!
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As my mother always says, "All things in moderation." Now, assuming the waffles are whole wheat and that you are serving some fruit on the side and that said waffles are only served occasionally and that all the other mornings are filled with balanced breakfasts, go ahead and have some syrup! Live a little! But it should be pure maple syrup, no fake Aunt Jemimah (sp?) junk.
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agree with you, kelce. no syrup for a 14 month old. we do cream cheese, jelly and/or peanut butter on waffles. random, i know, but it's kept the kid off the juice (syrup). keep up the good fight.
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I think I saw that outfit on "Project Runway" this season. Yep, I'm sure I did. Heidi loved it.
And we're non-syrup waffle people here. Although, I do worry that it may cause them to become IHOP junkies when they're teenagers.
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So funny, love that pic of Dylan in Summer's coat. We're going thru the same exact toddler sibling clothes lovin' phase in this house. Luke squeezing himself into all of Parker's clothes, all day long. And he's walking around the W.Village (uh huh) in a pointy bright hot pink fleece hat, much too small for him. Luckily he hasn't wanted to wear her clothes outside, yet….
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I'm in the pro-syrup contingent. I was raised on pop-tarts and Cap'n Crunch and it didn't hurt me, did it?
Wait. Don't answer that.
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Try this: buy "Summer" a brand new sleep sack–sized 4, and then give in when Dylan begs to wear it….
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I say no syrup- stay strong!
What is worse than having to hear all the specials at dinner is when they post them on a dry-erase board in the front – i mean how can you remember all that by the time you sit down. Anyway I pretend to listen to the waiter to be kind but come on…anyone who knows me knows I am ordering the chicken.
I like that idea about buying "summer" a bigger sleep sack…that Daphne mama is so smart :-}
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undoubtedly if my kid has access to anything other than her own too-small clothes she'd do the same thing.
i do syrup – sparingly. however, no added sugar on the cornflakes/rice krispies/cheerios. my sister thinks that's draconian.
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Buffy is in Hephzibah? The kibbutz?? I was there for a while too! Loved it. Curious.
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Sorry Francine–I should have clarified: Hephzibah GA. The. Single. Most. Uncultured. Bass. Ackwards. Place. Ever. 1 degree north of Hell. Welcome to my world. However, I am delighted to know there is someone who knows of the kibbutz and the real world references to Hephzibah.
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We love syrup in our house too! Pancakes and french toast are a big treat so why not add a little syrup. My kids are really small so I am always trying to get them up in the weight chart.
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OK We never had real waffels growing up, it was REAL french toast or Eggo's..which are toaster waffels..I didn't WANT toaster waffels. I wanted daddy to MAKE me french toast w/ the wonderbread. If you didn't know french toast should be made "soggy" and just a little crispy on the crust, each layer of bread should be loaded with powdered sugar and after it is smooth you put on the next hot piece of bread..this leaves a gooey sticky layer of sugary goodness in EVERY bite. SO like waffle syrup..sugar does a body good. SO my other question is why not buy sugar free syrup if you are going to freek about sugar? It all taste the same.
I wonder why I have always struggled with the weight..I am craving French Toast now.
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We use syrup on Saturdays. Tully knows syrup as "sticky?sticky?" and points to her waffle or pancake. She's only 23 months and we avoid most sugars unless it's from fruits. She had her first Oreo in the cul-de-sac last weekend and followed any kid who had one around like a dog waiting for them to accidentally drop it or something. Kids really don't need the stuff – don't get em used to it is how I was taught.
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Cast my vote for no syrup; it's not like she won't eat them without it! Good God, Man! Why are you trying to plant the seeds of refined sugar dependency?! Compromise; serve them with fruit.
As long as long as Dylan's not a size 12 squeezing into a 6, let her go
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Nothing wrong with real maple syrup, better to have unrefined sugar than Log Cabin!
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Well, I agree, if you must give syrup to children, give them the real stuff – it's more natural. I have to admit, now that my kids are older, they do eat real mayple syrup. But when they're little and they don't even know the difference, why spoil them? God knows I'd be better off if I ate mine without syrup. I also don't do sugared cereals like Froot Loops – if kids get a taste of all this sugary stuff and don't understand that its a bad choice, why would they ever eat anything else?? Sorry Rick, but Kelc – I say stick to your guns! Oh and definitely buy the bigger sleeper sack and trick Dylan into using it. I love to trick kids into doing things they think I don't want them to do. I used to say in the car "Whatever you do, do not fall asleep," and they'd be out like a light in minutes.
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Hi. New to your blog. I found you through Melissathemouth and I'm glad I did. How I've enjoyed this last post of yours. Will backtrack and read earlier ones. With regards to the silence, my own son is 3 years and 3 months and like you with Dylan, he COMPLETELY ignores me until I threaten him with taking away something he might want. Then he answers. Why that is I do not know. Your mental lapse at the restaurant is the kind of thing that happens to me all the time. My husband often wonders If I have some sort of metal narcolepsy going on because, according to him, it's like I've gone to sleep with my eyes wide open and my body upright. I'm just doing some internal conversation and listening with my favorite person (that'd be me) is all and well, the result is that I tune out. Maybe my kid is copying me, who knows?
Anyway, enjoyed your writing and I will be back for more.
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i say no syrup. my guy (29 months) gets a multigrain trader joe's "hot washell" every morning sans toppings and eats it with his hands like toast. i think he'd probably say eww if i put anything on it. if she isn;t asking for syrup, why introduce the sticky stuff?
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My 4 year old struts around in the most bizarre ensembles.
People probably think I'm an unfit mother. Truth is she has a dresser full of cute outfits, but she'd rather go out in a leotard, with no tights and Crocs, or the same stained velour sweats 5 days in a row.
I'm sick of fighting about it!
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I am having a new love affair with waffles – organic blueberry from Van's. And, my favorite thing to put on them is agave syrup which is low glycemic (so it doesn't send you into sugar shock like maple syrup) and is much less sweet.
A good compromise! And, a natural, healthier alternative found in your upscale grocery store.
BTW, agave syrup rocks in margaritas since it dissolves right away..in case any of you parents need something a little stronger!
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