Learning to Eat

I would have thought that eating was the most natural thing in the world.

Apparently NOT.

Tara is six months old and supposedly ready to 'eat' solids, says the paediatrician. Tara doesn't agree.

Considering she puts EVERYTHING in her mouth (newspaper, toys, sheets, clothes, cushions,the odd insect,her own fingers, other peoples fingers, her own toes...you get my drift) I didn't think she would have a problem putting some real food in her mouth for a change! But no...

Yesterday was the first (pureed) khichdi attempt, which met with DISASTER. There was no way she was going to put that khichdi in her mouth. She tried everything - squirming, making sorry faces, angry faces, deeply hurt sounds, pretended to gag, trying to tumble out of my arms and escape, spitting whatever little went in out... I tried making "yum yum" (very silly) sounds to make it appear appealing in the hope she would copy me. She didn't bite that bait either, and only looked more suspicious. I understand that pureed khichdi is not a gourmet delight, but still, it is just what the doctor ordered!
.
The battle will continue tomorrow. I am aware that there are more struggles ahead - once she actually gets it in her mouth, getting her to figure that she has to swallow, that this stuff is 'FOOD' which will fill her stomach and give her a most wondrous satisfaction (its only kind in the world) will be the next challenge!

I continue to be amazed at how the things we take for granted - walking, talking, languages, even picking up things, holding things, and of course EATING - are all learned. Through Tara's little victories (she is now dangerously mobile, wriggling about on her stomach and crawling a little on the knees) we see all that is normal in a new light. And get excited about re-discovering the world anew with her!