New Learning and Eating with a Spoon
This slice, inspired by 2 things really: a posted picture on Facebook that said, “Everything you were looking for was right there with you all along”—from the Wizard of Oz…
And
Watching Natalie learning to eat with a spoon…
So here’s what I learned (Notes to self~I really could apply this to anything I’m learning new-just by observing her-oh those little observations)
1. Try it, "nothing ventured nothing gained"-she just grabbed the spoon and went for the applesauce!
2. It’s okay to be messy! REALLY! Being messy is part of the learning-things can’t and most often won’t be perfect! She had applesauce on her chin, her shirt, and the table. I have to say, “It’s ok”.
3. I must take new learning in smaller chunks-larger bites most likely cause choking and are just too hard to make learning useful!-she took the applesauce in smaller bites and was able to get more in her mouth than when dropping the larger amount it on its way there.
4. Sometimes a helping hand is needed and it’s ok to let go of support-I was trying to feed her myself to guide the spoon in with the applesauce on it and suddenly she just started telling me “No” “No” “No”-I took this as a sign to hand it off to her and she did get the food in without my help!
5. Maybe, things just taste better when the work is accomplished without help! She smiled so happily when she was able to get the spoon to her mouth without my assistance, all by herself!
6. And finally sometimes finishing isn't possible, it’s ok not to finish everything today…leave a little on the plate for another day! She didn’t eat all of the applesauce or the whole muffin, and that’s ok!
Everything I needed to know was right there next to me all along!
