Celery

 WRITING PROMPT # 17: CELERY 

You wouldn't think that celery could merit an entire blog post but I know why my friend suggested it as a writing prompt. I. Abhor. Celery. My friend, who suggested the topic, and I shared lunch together on Fridays when I worked with her at an elementary school. Every lunch time she would pull out her disgusting celery sticks and I would comment about the smell. Especially while pregnant. It's not just the offending vegetable itself but there is some emotional baggage attached. 

While gathered for a family reunion many years ago, an unnamed extended family member put out a spread of peanut butter and celery sticks for all the kids. Everyone was munching on the snack but she happened to notice I wasn't eating and asked why. After hearing that I hated celery, she challenged me. "Have you ever tried it with peanut butter?" 

Of course not. Why would I taint something I love with something I can't stand?? This family member vehemently refused my request to leave the table until I tried the snack. After glaring and pouting proved ineffective, I finally reached for the celery under the menacing eyes of my relative. It took a minute to swallow and only a few seconds longer before I ran to the bathroom and threw it back up.  

I can officially say: 

I do not like celery, Sam-I-Am.

 Not on its own or with butter spread.

 If I had to eat it again,

 I'd rather be dead. 

This experience has shaped the way I parent at dinner time. Everyone has an opinion about this, but I don't force my kids to eat food they don't like. They do try it but I'm not one of those, "You can't leave the table until every last bite is eaten!" kind of parents. I make one dinner and if they decide they don't like it they are more than welcome to make their own dinner. One of my children should be the paid spokesperson for General Mills for the amount of cereal he's eaten in his lifetime. 

Our only caveat is they have to be gracious if they decide not to eat it. This rule has been in place for a while now. My feelings have been hurt more than once with a dramatic, "yuck!" while spitting out the food. Or the good ol' prodding of the casserole with a fork while skeptically asking, "what's in it?" Now, they simply say, "I'm sorry, Mom. It's not my favorite," and put their food back, wash off the plate, and get their own dang dinner. 

I fantasize quite often about serving a meal that everyone raves about, but so far we've only gotten 6 out of 6 stars (Hollie doesn't count) on grilled-freaking-cheese sandwiches. Everyone likes those. So nutritional. 

Maybe I should be more upset about it but as the main household cook, I omit celery from every recipe. My kids don't have that luxury. So I will allow them their own gastronomic journey because even kids can recognize nasty food when it crosses their path. 

I'm talking about you, celery.