A Little Lesson from a Little Man

Evan surprises us everyday!  There is always something new he brings to our lives...whether it's something he does, babbles, or simple change in his nap schedule ;0) we are pleasantly amazed at how much we learn from him.   Today I served E his dinner, autumn squash, turkey, and broccoli by putting the food on his high chair tray like I always do.  I cut all his food into small pieces for him to eat.   However, tonight, I left one broccoli floret (not cut up) in his bowl on the kitchen table, which I thought was out of his reach.  After placing E's food on his tray I went to the sink to get a damp paper towel.  When I came back Evan had the broccoli floret in his hand and the bowl lying sideways on his tray.  He looked at me with the look of "I shouldn't be doing this should I" look.   Of course the "new mom" in me immediately wanted to grab the broccoli floret out of his hand in fear he would choke on it but a little voice inside me told me to just smile and watch.  So I just sat there watching and encouraging him to try to eat it.   As he looked at me with the broccoli in his hands he had this look of uncertainty.   He appeared to not know whether he should eat it or not eat it and if he was to eat it, how he should eat it.  After looking at me, he looked at the broccoli for a few seconds and then decided to stick the small stalk end into his mouth.  He gnawed on it for a while then turned it around and starting chewing on the floret.  To my surprise he really enjoyed it!   I am glad that he grabbed the floret from the bowl while I wasn't looking.  He had this independence about him and I could tell he felt proud :0)  Thankfully from this moment I realized that I have to let him try things, set my fears aside, and just let him experience things for himself.   If he's ready, he'll let me know (as he did tonight).  It's also a bit reassuring that he was apprehensive about doing things initially and doesn't just dive in, if only he will carry this when peer pressures arises later down the road ;0)