Blog Gem: Let them eat cake, or just a boatload of Petits Filous?

So, it is getting rather close to my blog-o-versary. Almost ONE WHOLE YEAR on from my very first dip into blog-land. So, I have decided that over the next two weeks I may re-visit some of my favourite posts, and some that may not be the cheeriest but were important to me.

This is my first ‘Blog Gem’. (I must state here that this idea has been whole-heartedly and utterly thieved from one of my favourite bloggers, the wonderful Kate Takes Five. I am hoping she won’t mind too much *smiles sweetly and passes the vino…*).  This is from a very long time ago when W was still rather small…

A horrible situation arose at W’s nursery the other week, for which I was utterly unprepared.  When dropping him off as normal I was suddenly, unexpectedly cornered approached by one of the nursery assistants and asked…

NA: So, how do you feel about his puddings?

Me: Um, sorry, whose what?

It was a fair question.  He has been having his meals there once a week for a little while now but the subject just hadn’t come up before.  To be honest it hadn’t really occurred to me because it is only recently that I have stopped sending home-made meals in for him to eat.

NA: W’s pudding.  Do you want him to have any?

Now there is clearly a right answer to this question but for the life of me I don’t know what it is.  I can feel the stares from all of the other assistants as it is taking me so long to answer.  Do I have time to whip out my phone, Ask Jeeves maybe?  Nope.

Me: Mmmmmmm  *thoughtful look* *shuffles uncomfortably*

Oh Christ I’m burning up now.  They are ALL waiting.  Even the other kids are looking up at me expectantly.  I think I have actually broken a sweat.  After what feels like FOREVER another, kinder, nursery assistant jumps in.

Kind NA: How about fruit?

Thank God!  Yes I know this one.

Me: Yes! Yes! He can definitely have fruit.  He eats a lot of fruit.  Yumbles.

Holy crap.  I just said ‘Yumbles’.  Out loud.  To an adult.

Mean NA: What about cake?

Oh darn.  What is the answer?  CAN he have cake? I have never given him any but possibly because I diet all the time and, as such, there is rarely any nearby.  Would it do him any harm, make him horribly hyperactive?  Jeepers, he is pretty pumped most of the time already.  I have never given him pudding.  Only Petits Filous.  He eats boatloads of that and has been fine.  But that is yoghurt so maybe not REALLY pudding.  Just say no.  Yep, that’s the answer.  But then they might all think I’m really MEAN.  I don’t want to be known as the MEAN Mum.  Oh grow up.

Me: No

Mean NA: Ok so just fruit.

Me: Yep.  Fruit is great.

DO NOT say Yumbles.

Mean NA: But if he sees the others having pudding and looks like he wants some?

Oh Christ.

Me: Well if he looks like he WANTS SOME then yes thats fine.

This was a few weeks ago.  As I left I was absolutely none the wiser as to what the final outcome of this little parlay was, and remained so until today.  Just as I was bundling him into his still-too-big coat, ready to leave, another NA whispered conspiratorially to me.

NA: Blimey, he really LOVES his custard doesn’t he.

I am guessing he loves his cake just as much.