The Sweet Smell of Success in Parenting

Graham won’t eat his vegetables.

It’s not that he does not like them; he does, dipped into ranch dressing, or cheese sauce, or soy sauce, or mayonaise.

It’s that he is six and he would rather get up and run around, and I let him leave his vegetables for last because I eat my vegetables last.

Today, there were two untouched spears of broccolini sitting on his plate.

I had a flash of inspiration.

“Graham, do you know that if you eat your broccolini it will make your poo smell very strong — so strong that the smell will stick around the bathroom for five minutes or so after you go?”

“Really?”

Down went the broccolini, immediately.

I have a nagging anxiety that tomorrow he’s going to insist that I go up to the bathroom to sniff the air.