Party Manners

I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow- there is not much in the house to make a meal... unless you know a recipe that incorporates veggie refried beans, crushed tomatoes and frozen peas.

So, since we got home later than I would have liked, Bridget and I went to an Indian restaurant and ordered Spinach something (with tofu instead of the cheese... I forget the proper name, but it is very good, and Bridget loves it...) and we sat in the dining room to eat.

I had planned on taking the leftovers home, but Bridget ate them ALL. She leaned over to me at one point and said, "This is very good." Then she leaned over again before I could answer her and she whispered in a very tiny voice: "Mom, it looks like poop. Poop starts with a "P"."

This was whispered- she almost NEVER whispers ANYTHING... her normal voice in public is one that shatters eardrums and pierces walls- so I calmly and very quietly said to her "Yes, Bridget, You're right. It kind of does look like that. It tastes very nice, though, and polite people don't discuss it when things- especially food- look like that."

Then I realized that my five year old daughter who hates anything about the alphabet or letter sounds sounded out a word all on her own. I needed to recognize her achievement, even if it wasn't an appropriate word for dinner conversation... so I squeaked out- "Good job with your letter sounds. That word does start with a "P." Polite people who are using their VERY BEST MANNERS don't talk about that word, especially in restaurants. Good job, though."

She answered "Oh. Okay, Mom." And that was that. She ate the rest of the food, sat politely while I waited for the check, didn't lose her mind when I told her she couldn't have something she wanted, and held my hand as we walked to the door. She talked about how she was happy she remembered to use her party manners all the way home; then she kept saying the first letters of words while we were driving. She got right in bed when we got home, no fussing, and went right to sleep.

I don't know what came over my daughter, but I like it. Hooray for party manners.