Write a letter to someone whom you judged by first impression. It can be a serious or a humorous one!
As a kid, I was so much like Lily, as far as being a picky eater could go. My mom tried everything she knew to get me to eat. One time, I gave her such a hard time eating a simple dish of spaghetti with tomato sauce that I ended up having my mom dump that dish with spaghetti and sauce on my head.
My dad said it didn’t upset me and I just sat there. After that happened, he actually had found a poster of a kid with a similar dish of spaghetti on her head and bought it because it reminded him of me.
I must admit nowadays, I love spaghetti with tomato sauce, but I was sure quick to judge back then.
So here is a short letter I wrote to apologize to this twirly food delight so many years later for the October Daily challenge today. Sit back and enjoy!
Dear Misunderstood Spaghetti,
I couldn’t have been more then 3 years old and yes I was a picky eater back in the day. I thought you were less then tasty. See my gripe wasn’t with you, but the tomato sauce. I truly didn’t like the color, texture or simple look of it.
If my mom would have coated my noodles in butter, I sure would have lapped it up, but alas she made homemade gravy (if you are Italian you get this one!) and slaved all day over that stove making this delicacy. What did I know, I was not a connoisseur and just saw something that I was not having any of.
I truly was having no part of the gravy and cried, kicked and screamed, too. Mom tried everything, but nothing worked. Finally she got so upset and took the bowl, spaghetti and gravy, too and dumped it on my head.
I probably deserved it, but still cannot believe she did that, when all she had to do was ask if I wanted sauce or butter.
The meal would have turned out so differently and definitely a lot more pleasant for all who attended.
But alas, at 36 years old with two whiny, screechy little girls of my own (one who is an even pickier eater then I-yes I got paid back in spades for this), I am truly sorry that I misjudged you on that night oh so many years ago.
For now, I can only wish that someone would allow me to eat my spaghetti hot (not luke warm or cold) with sauce, because you are truly a delicious and filling meal. And I promise, I will eat you all up and never complain again if you just let me eat one meal without interruption now for juice or a different food then I served tonight!
Yours truly,
Janine (a former and reformed picky spaghetti eater)
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massholemommy says
That is hilarious! My six year old is a wicked picky eater and honest to god, I have thought about smooshing his face into his bowl of pasta before, but I've never actually done it. He would die.
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Janine Huldie says
I have had my visions trust me Robin, but then I remember that I was truly a picky eater so I try my best to let this issue go when I can!! π
katbiggie says
Oh you don't know how many times I have wanted to dump food over my kids' heads! I love your mom!!! And wow, I thought that pic of you was one of your girls. They are definitely your mini me's!!!
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Janine Huldie says
I know my mom truly is not even 5 feet tall (she is 4'11"), but when she got annoyed watch out and I must have pushed every button that day. Now it is so payback time and getting it in spades with my girls, because I guess what goes around comes around. I totally see myself more in Lily then Emma. Emma, I think, has my coloring, but more Kevin's facial features. Lily has more my facial features. But either way, they are definitely mine π
Rosey says
Eee-oyyyyyyy! I thought my mom was the only one who did that…my big deal was milk. I hated it and wanted no part of it (I still hate it) and got a lukewarm glass of it (from my letting it sit so long) right over the top of my head. I stuffed a melon behind the radiator once too, but that's another (stinky) story. π
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Janine Huldie says
Rosey, I love knowing your mom did something similar and when I was a kid I truly couldn't understand why she did this to me, but now as a parent I get it in spades! But seriously, you had me smiling about your stinky milk story. I guess we really do have more in common then we ever could have imagined!! π
Rosely says
I love spaghetti, thankfully so does my son. He is a picky eater but pasta, he likes.
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Janine Huldie says
Rosely, I do too now also, not sure what my deal was with the sauce back in the day. And my girls also do love pasta, but my little one is truly a very picky eater, but pasta is the one thing she does love!! π
flemily says
Ha – cute letter and love that photo of the spaghetti-head too.:) I have a very picky eater in my house (who shall remain nameless), but he's slowly becoming more willing to try new foods. At least he likes spaghetti.:)
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Janine Huldie says
Emily, somewhere there is even a picture of me as a child with the spaghetti all over me. I couldn't get my hands on it, so I found this one and still very cute baby!! π That said, I am thankful my girls do like spaghetti, but I will name my picky eater gladly with Lily! Seriously, she will be the death of me at dinner time, lol!! π
Billybuc says
A fun way to begin my day. The first picture looks like my son when he would eat spaghetti…he had it everywhere. It was pretty amazing and very funny.
Have a great day Janine!
Janine Huldie says
So glad it was, because it was truly fun to write and happy to share with you and all. Wishing you a great day again as always! π
notinjersey says
oh my goodness, hilarious, and such a creative way to respond to the prompt!
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Janine Huldie says
Thanks Dara and I sat for about a half hour brainstorming on this one before it came to me how I wanted to answer this prompt. Just glad you enjoyed it π
The Dose of Reality says
I used to hate spaghetti as a kid, too! I feel sad for myself all the times I missed out on this delicious meal! It is one of my favorites!-Ashley
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Janine Huldie says
I know same here and truly one of my favorites, too Ashley. Not sure what my problem was as a kid!
Candi Sary says
Cute letter π
Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Candi!! π
Mandy says
Oh spaghetti! I didn't like it as a kid either! It had to be served with butter. I completely understand the childhood drama!
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Mandy and like I said now I get the childhood drama dished out at me instead of dishing it out myself!!
Amy P says
Aww, I love that photo of your girls. Love those big pretty eyes. I was a picky child with some things, but it was eat or be hungry and have it for lunch the next day. Man, I love eating hot food too, but hey some things are sacrifices to get our man and babes fed first. Love this post Janine!
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Janine Huldie says
o true about the sacrifices we make for hot food! And I think after the spaghetti dumping my mom pretty much gave up with me, but I do remember my dad saying as long as I tasted it and still didn't like it was Ok. Of course, I would always have to do the sniff and smell way first (smell it make sure it was Ok to consume)!
Sara says
I love that you call it gravy. One time my mom invited one of my friends to dinner for gravy and she said no because she didn't like roast beef. Ha once we cleared up what gravy was she stayed. As you know I have the worlds pickiest eater so I can relate to your mommy dumping spaghetti on you.
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Janine Huldie says
I had this fight with Kevin, who is Irish. He swore gravy was for meat like roast beef, not for pasta. So, I totally found it funny, because growing up it was just gravy never anything else. I love that you got that though and totally an Italian thing!! And I know now I totally get the whole dumping the spaghetti over the picky kid's head for sure!! π
lovingmarshall says
Love that picture of you when you were two!! Your girls take after you so much. π
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Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Lauren and I had so much fun recently digging through some of my old childhood photos seeing how similar I was to my girls back then π
Ruchira says
haha…being a mom made you realize how it affected your mom.
trust me…i have heard similar dialogues from my mum and felt it too…lol
from one mom to another…sailing in the same boat…hugs!
voted for ya!
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Ruchira and I know now as an adult I finally get it and only took me this long. Hugs back at you, too!! π
tamaralikecamera says
hah!! I'm reformed too. And by the way, that is a great meltdown story for you mom, is it not? I have been in situations where I have been angry enough to dump food on my kids' heads or throw their possession out the car window. I have never done it but I do find my mind wandering to that every now and then..
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Janine Huldie says
Tamara, totally great meltdown story for my mom and she would have fit perfectly in the book with us proving some things never do go out of style!! π
realhousewife says
I still do not like spaghetti unless its my own plain sauce…a few ingredients and that's it. My kids like it but they have to beg me to make it:) lol
I would have rather had my mom dump it on my head and not make me eat it…:-)
Janine Huldie says
Lol, Kelly come to think of it dumping it was better then forcing me to eat this back then when I didn't like it!
stephanie2006 says
Oh my goodness, the little kid picture of you, Lily looks EXACTLY like you, it's amazing!! Oh, and love the story.. Your mom is cool.. Hilarious!
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Janine Huldie says
Stephanie, when I was going through the photos for another post tomorrow, I found another picture of me in a hooded jacket from the winter where I was 2 years old and it so could have been Lily. So, no one can say she isn't mine, because she does look quite a bit like me. And I know my mom doing that was awesome (now as an adult I totally think this!).
day-with-kt.com says
HaHa – so funny that your mom actually did that!!! I think all moms have that moment(s) when we want to do the same thing.
My youngest son used to eat his spaghetti with butter no sauce and then all of a sudden he decided he would have sauce – kids are funny.
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Janine Huldie says
Kids ate truly funny and you are right you never know what you are going to get!! π
Nellie says
LOL she dumped it on your head?! BEST MOM EVER. LOL!!!
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Janine Huldie says
Nellie, at this age with 2 whiny little girls, I totally agree!! π
dianeroark says
Janine,
I have not made spaghetti in a long time. I am now planning on making it this coming week. When my twin boys were 1 to 3, they loved spaghetti. They looked like the little girl above but even worse. They actually fed each other, put it in each other's hair, pitched it in the floor, drop it in the high chairs, and hid it down in their diapers. They loved every minute of their spaghetti time. Nightmares is why I have not fixed spaghetti often.
I need to find their pictures. Now, they are fun memories.
Blessings,
Diane http://www.recipesforourdailybread.com
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Janine Huldie says
Diane, I love that memory that you have of your kids when they were babies with spaghetti and seriously those pictures have to be adorable and think you should so dig them out now for sure!! π
Blond Duck says
I love spaghetti!!!
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Janine Huldie says
I do too now!! π
gigigirl says
Your mother had a "meltdown"…..something you all know about and wrote about in a published book! I am of the school that does not force kids to eat a food they don't want. I remember not liking peas at one time, and then a few months later, my palate was ready for that taste. I say…..avoid power struggles when possible. You and your mom were both poor eaters, and you grew up just fine. Amazing what we can survive……..see you tomorrow. xxoo
Janine Huldie says
Totally agree and I know my mother had a "meltdown". But seriously, I try my best not to force the girls with food and amazing what we can survive on. Definitely see you tomorrow!! π xoxo!!
gigigirl says
You do great with the girls. Was good to see you all and hope you all had fun carving the pumpkins together! See you in Nov. Love xxoo
Janine Huldie says
Definitely can't wait to see you again and thanks again, Aunt Gloria!! π xoxo!!
@itsmaryspeaks says
Loved your letter Janine! I just had a convo with spaghetti earlier and he said 'Apology accepted'. Lol! Spaghetti is one delightful meal! <3
On a diff note, you look like the female version of young Freddie Highmore at 2yrs old! (I just watched August Rush hours ago so he came to mind) π
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks for having that convo for me Mary!! And seriously, I had so much fun with this prompt. Honestly loved this month and using your prompts. Need to do another month of this hopefully soon!! π
Jodi Flaherty says
Love this fun post! Especially as a mom to a VERY picky eater which is often stressful. I am so glad to read you like spaghetti today! It gives me hope!
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cgacad says
spaghetti and meatballs, no joke, one of my favorite meals of all time. aren't you glad that tastes change?! i wasn't a picky eater, but my sister was…so i know what it's like!
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Janine Huldie says
I am so glad that tastes do change, because spaghetti and meatballs are the best. I would so be missing out if I didn't like them. As for the picky eater sounds like you have some practice with your sister in case your baby possibly is a picky eater!
Sandy Ramsey says
This is too funny! I never wore any food myself but I was a terribly picky eater…I'm a texture person so I get it! My Mom did fling food at my Dad one night at a big family dinner because he made her mad about a snide comment about her cooking. I'm fairly sure it was spaghetti and he ducked and it hit the painting on the wall behind him. That stain was there for years and made a great story over the years as I'm sure yours does! Isn't it just a hoot how we get paid back in spades for the poop we pulled when we were kids?! Yay, Karma!
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Janine Huldie says
I know karma really will get you and trust me I am getting it in spades definitely now. And loved that story of your mom flanging spaghetti at your dad. I seriously got a smile reading that!! π