LET THEM EAT CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH FOR DINNER

| image by sydney clawson | 

It’s ok. It will all be ok. I only know this because my sweet neighbors and parents of five told me so. And I listened. Turns out they were right.

We try so hard to follow most of the rules: eat your veggies, eat dinner promptly at 5:30, eat organic, eat more veggies, get in the bath before 7, lights out 7:30. But it’s summer. And yesterday amongst the awful humidity and scathing heat, my daughter went swimming at the neighbors. Well, because swimming with 5 kids is more fun. So the twins and I walked over and sat with the neighbors on the back porch while sissy swam, and it was the usual chaos with the twins. However, about 30 minutes in, my sweet neighbors offered me a glass of wine, the boys started to play with 2 of the 5 kids and suddenly we were there till 7. 

I like to follow rules.

When I realized the time and the smell of the twins diapers I said it’s time to go. As we walked away, although I was quite relaxed (thanks wine), I said to my neighbor “I guess I’ll microwave them some nuggets for dinner” and my neighbor said, “just give them some cereal and milk they’ll be fine.”

My inner organic broccoli self fired up and thought NO!

Then I got all 3 dirty sweaty kids in the house.

Cinnamon toast crunch with milk kids!!!!

The thought of making dinner exhausted me.

The thought of them eating cereal for dinner panicked me.

Two of the three kids ate the cereal.

The table was covered in milk 10 minutes later.

Then they had a popsicle.

I let go.

And they were fine.

We marched up the stairs and got in the bath, and as I type this out now I’m dumbfounded at how easy that was.

How simply not chaotic it was.

How I let go of my control and just let them eat cereal for dinner.

I did too.

It was unbelievable.

Have you ever had cinnamon toast crunch cereal with milk for dinner?

It’s OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Like, I haven’t had something so yummy in a long time.

And you know what?

The kids are fine.

Still in bed as I type. 

Not one wake up last night.

No early rising.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT.

I guess the family with 5 kids are right.

Duh. 

Friendly advice never suited me so well.

Let them eat the cinnamon toast crunch.

It’s all going to be ok.