I have two kids (7 years old and 1 year old) with a third on the way in January. Obviously, the 1-year-old doesn’t care where we eat when we eat out. The 7-year-old used to be addicted to that M place and also Applebee’s. But the last time we were at Applebee’s she didn’t enjoy her food and wasn’t all that excited about the balloon she got. She actually said, "The next time I say I want to go to Applebee’s, don’t listen to me! Take me to the Mexican restaurant instead!" (The Mexican restaurant is a locally-owned place; it’s fantastic.)

HOWEVER . . .

She still wants to go to that M place (crikey, I CANNOT bring myself to type it) once in a while, and we indulge her desire. I feel that part of being in relationship with other people is acceeding to their whims and desires once in a while, even if it means dining with a clown. I never enjoy the food, but I always enjoy the meal, if you catch my drift.

Still, she wants to go there less and less all the time. She’s developed a taste for a Greek diner in the town where I work, for instance. And, while I have yet to convince her that a polish sausage with sauerkraut is something worth trying, I wouldn’t have eaten one at her age either. She’s learning . . . but not as fast as I am.