Would you like a piece of cheese?

There is one things I know in this world of "what the heck is going on"...One lesson I've learned in my few days here...Lesson #1: parenting is the same no matter where you live.

"Would you like a piece of cheese?"

No cheese please!

In Jenn and Johns quest for Ronan to eat adult food they encountered the Great Cheese War of 2013...would you like a piece of cheese? Ronan loves cheese, I mean LOVES. If there is anything in this world he will eat it's crackers (aka crack as Ro calls it), eggs, hot dogs and cheese. Only real problem with his love for cheese it that it is a love for the fabulous "American" delicacy: string cheese. So what's the problem, huh? Peruvians don't eat string cheese duh! There are about a gazillion better cheeses in this world, why would they eat string cheese? So starts they Great Cheese War. One bit Ro, that is all you have to take and then you can eat ANYTHING you want. You want a smoothie? Sure no problem, just eat one bite of cheese. You want chocolate cake? Sure no problem, just eat ONE bite of cheese. You want anything delicious and filled with a pound of sugar? Sure no problem. JUST EAT ON BITE OF CHEESE! Put it in your mouth, chew it and swallow and then the world is yours. Just do it. I know you will like it if you just taste it. I know your food world will be changed and your will never want to go back to the baby food again. I'm not trying to trick you, trust me. "Would you like a piece of cheese? pre-lunch battle comes and goes...no bite. "Would you like a piece of cheese" lunch battle comes and goes...not bite. "Would you like a piece of cheese" post lunch battle comes and goes...no bite! Now it's nap time. Time for the soldiers of cheese war to rest up, prepare their minds, strategies and gear up for face to face battle again. Now that the soldiers are all rested up, Jenn and John have come up with a great strategy. No more cheese battle today...they will resume war tomorrow, but nothing for Ro until dinner time. He will have to wait. Learn his lesson and try again tomorrow. Stop judging them they aren't starving him. He has plenty to survive on off of himself and he will get something. Commence strategy...healthy fruit smoothie with Quinoa and milk. Great plan. Great pan until John gets hungry and goes for a snack while we all as a family watch our movie....what does he come back with? Crackers. Seriously....he brought back crackers. Genius. Now the strategy has failed and the battle for today is truly over. Parenting fail. Parents-0, Ronan-1.


Lesson #2 stems directly from the great cheese war...We are a stubborn people. How many times does the Lord speak to us the exact same thing. Yahaira if you just take ONE bite of my Word...just taste my truth...I know you will enjoy it. I know your life will be changed and you will never want to go back to your old nasty food, your old ways! I'm not trying to trick you, trust me.

Eli drinking his "toffee"

In my own quest for peace in this world of transition and children (2 toddlers, Ronan and Eli, and a growing baby inside) all I want is a cup of coffee. Sitting down on a couch, enjoy the view, read the bible and drink coffee out of my beautiful Tiffany's coffee cup. Only problem for me is that since I've been pregnant decaffeinated coffee has been my beverage of choice. Any child would probably agree that anything that comes out of a cup that mom has most be delicious. So, of course, Eli wants to taste it...so started the worst parenting decision I have ever made. Parenting fail. Parent-0, Eli-1. Rewind several months ago: peeeaaassee momma. Peeaassseee taste. Peeeaasssseee toffee (aka coffee). Sure son, its decaffeinated you can taste it. What kind of sucker am I? Fast forward to today, about 2 months of Eli tasting coffee and me wanting to sit on the couch and enjoy a few moments of rest: With my beloved Tiffany's cup filled coffee in hand, I enter the room with the children happily playing, I sit down, snuggle into the couch, open the Bible and take my first sip of peace. Peace that only lasted 30 seconds before that sweet innocent, lovely, begging little voice comes running up to me...TOFFEE!!!!!! When did you get so stinking smart child??? How do you know that mommy only drinks coffee from THAT cup? Peeeaaasseee momma, ppeaase "toffee." Yes child whatever you want, yes please drink. Fast forward 1 minute and the "toffee" is gone. MMMMOOOMMMM. Ppppeeeassee more!!!! What do I do, what do I do???? Ah of course fill him up with sugary goodness, call it coffee and he will never know the difference. Enter our first sip of chocolate milk which shall from now on be known as coffee. Yes...Chocolate milk as coffee for the toddler...why didn't I have this stroke of genius before? You lied to your son? I know you are judging me right now...thats OK...I told him that its chocolate milk but he and I prefer to call it coffee for now. Its more fun.

Lesson #3? Yeah I haven't figured it out yet. Or maybe I have but I just don't want to admit it....The Lord knows what is best for us in the right timing. We so often want what we think is great and best for us. We want what we aren't quite ready for. But more then parents know what is best for their children, the Lord knows what is best for His children and in due time, if He thinks it's best, He will provide. Until then enjoy what the Lord does give.

Lesson #4 has no spiritual meaning to it although if I search hard enough I'm sure I could just come up with one. The last thing I've learned is simple common sense. Never build a home with light switches and door bells 3 feet off the ground. Seriously, thats like a child's playground and parental yelling match. Don't touch the switch! Its midnight son you can't ring the doorbell!

Ronan and the light switch

All you can do at the end of the day is laugh. Trust in the Lord and take it in stride. Yup, its true nothing magical happened to our children when we moved to Peru. Our children didn't become different people when we crossed the Equator. They are still our wonderful, beautifully made children and we wouldn't trade them for the world. Maybe you who have been or are currently parents of small children don't understand because your kids are perfect, but my guess is most of you get it. As for me, I'm grateful my children are exactly who they are and that they teach me amazing lessons every day. I am grateful the Lord uses them to speak to me. I am grateful everyday for these small human beings. I love them so much.

Parenting is the same here (based on experience and observations of true Peruvians) as it is over in the States.

That is comforting.

That is a little piece of home.

That is the Lord speaking to us.