Today we decided to try to take Megan to a movie. Megan has never been to a movie before (except when she was really little, and then she just slept through them) and we knew that we were being overly optimistic that she might actually sit through one. Megan isn’t too big on watching television or movies at home – but she will watch educational things, or things without a lot of dialogue. We had heard that “Wall-E” had very little dialogue, and we thought that with the novelty of the movie theatre (along with some M&Ms) we might have a chance.
Here’s Megan all ready to go to the movies.
Megan was intrigued by the big huge movie screen. She watched almost all the previews.
I knew we were in trouble when I had to pull out the M&Ms right as the movie was starting. We actually made it through a whole half hour before Megan really lost interest. She started singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” very loudly. Adam and I both volunteered to take her out, and then we starting “arguing” about who got to take her out, and then we both admitted that we wanted to take her out because we weren’t even interested in the movie. So we left. Honestly, neither of us had any desire to see the movie in the first place – we just thought it was the one movie that Megan might have some interest in. I think we were both relieved that neither of us wanted to stay. We weren’t disappointed that we gave it a shot though. We like letting Meg experience new things.
Afterwards we drove to a little town outside of Ames to do some shopping. Adam and Megan wandered around PetSmart while I looked for some clothing, and Megan had a blast. Then we went to a Mexican restaurant – the first real restaurant that we have been to for a while. Adam and I were a little surprised when Megan jumped right into the chips and salsa. She had never had salsa before – although she has had chips. She was in such a good mood.
Adam and I ordered traditional Mexican food, but I ordered french fries and chicken fingers off the kid’s menu for Megan; crossing my fingers that she would at least eat the fries. If Adam and I were surprised when Megan had chips and salsa, we were BEYOND shocked when she grabbed a chicken finger and started munching away at it HAPPILY. I don’t think I can stress enough the low level of importance that Megan puts on food. I have yet to hear of a child who willingly eats less then her. Almost every meal is a battle. She must have known she was shocking her parents, because she laughed the entire time and kept saying “chicken” over and over again. I would have paid 100 dollars for her 3 dollar chicken fingers. She ate almost two whole pieces. I left the restaurant one happy camper. When people hear about Megan’s lack of interest in food, they always give advice and sometimes say hurtful things (not on purpose, I hope) but it is sometimes suggested that her poor eating is my fault. Megan’s eating habits have been something that I have worried about – since the day she was born. Light at the end of the tunnel is always welcome.
On our way home, I glanced back and noticed Megan was pulling out her hairdo.
She was still the cutest thing I have ever seen.
Then she decided that she wanted to hold her hands in this position for several minutes:
We had a really good day today. Megan was such a delight. She is at such a fun age. I am glad I decided to let her grow up.
I enjoyed this blog! It is so fun to read about little Megan and I am so happy for her HUGE SUCCESS today. We took the girls to their first movie at 2 and a half and it still didn’t go really well, though, like you I was glad I did it. I am really hoping to hear that your busy day today means that you are feeling a little better? Hopefully? I worry about how much pain you are in all the time and I understand how much that is probably getting you down, so this day probably meant more to you than it might normally if you hadn’t been bedridden for so long …
See you in a week and a half!
ps) I wish you all were here today for the little party. It was fun!
I thought about taking Craig to Wall-e, but i know he wouldn’t have sat still for ten minutes. I was glad I didn’t. He’s still too young. But Megan did better!
And YAY for chicken fingers! I love finding something new that Craig will eat lots of! He’s not nearly as difficult with food as Megan, but is too busy to sit still and eat much. Hang in there! She’s still learning and developing OBVIOUSLY!
How brave to take megan to the movies…when she was little. I never took Stella, because I was afraid she would wake up, and then scream or something. So being that Stella has never stayed with a babysitter – I have not been to a movie theater in over a year! How sad is that. I want to go so bad. We are about to move in with a family from our ward – and then hopefully Stella will get comfortable enough with them she will stay with them long enough, Andy and I will be able to go see a movie. I am dying to. And about Megan not eating. I understand completely. Stella is not a good eater at all. She drinks milk better than she eats – but she has never had the patience to sit and eat. And I make her eat at the table because I don’t want to start bad habits of letting her eat as she walks around the house. So good luck with that. Hopefully one day…very soon, megan will prove that she really has listened to you all along, and knows she needs to eat, and will stop making you worry about it so much.