Kiddo takes the wheel

There are always new things in life, especially on our adventure.  All the big things I’ve talked about; Languages, cultures, weather, the cities and flow of life/traffic/people, and all the rest.  There’s also the small things.  We’ve changed deodorants and toothpastes a few times in the last few years, dental floss, shampoo, and (for the ladies) conditioner.  Then there’s hand soaps, dish soaps, laundry soap, and even counter cleaner.  We are constantly trying new rice brands until we find the one we like.  Everyday is a new thing.  Every day is trying something new.

Kiddo, with our watching of Top Chef, is expanding her vocabulary of food and tastes, but she’s also opening her mind to food a bit.  We took her out, the other night, to a little place J and I found a while back.  We figured she wouldn’t like it, as it is VERY Chinese in presentation and flavors.  We didn’t get pics of food, we we’re eating, but we got a potato thing in Chinese spices, mutton skewers, but those (here at least) are usually pretty fatty and in Chinese spices, a roasted eggplant in garlic and cilantro, grilled scallions, and some fried rice.  We figured Kiddo would eat the rice and balk at the rest.  She loved the potatoes, was not a fan of mutton or eggplant, and was ok with scallions, but they were hard for her to eat with her pumpkin smile and loose tooth, but she “didn’t hate them.”  She also liked the garlic on the eggplant, just not the texture of the eggplant.  So, we gave her some of the garlic off the eggplant and mixed it in the rice for her. 

Also, walking home from school the other day, a friend of hers, N, ran up and asked her if she wanted to try a bun, since she had an extra.  Kiddo said sure and thanked N, who then ran back over to her Mum and they walked home.  We both gave N and her Mum a wave and they waved back and Kiddo tried the bun.  “Mmmmm.  It’s like a burger, only pork… and the bread is kinda sweet, but not.  I think it’s all the seeds.”  I’d have asked for a bite, but it was covered in seeds and that’s one of my diverticula triggers.  A year ago…. Heck, 2 months ago…. She would have balked at the new food.  Now, however, she’s more willing to try new things and talk about them.  

I made soup the other night and got great feedback from Kiddo.  I had bones so I could make my own stock and she helped with prep, flavor profiles, and tasting of all.  Touch more salt and give it a squeeze of lemon to brighten it up.  I asked if balsamic wouldn’t do the job and she thought about it.  “Just a splash, if that doesn’t work, give it the lemon and salt.”  A half hour later, we agreed that it needed the pinch of salt and a quarter lemon juice.  J called it my best batch in China.  Kiddo, though, gets at least 30% of that credit.  She also cut the celery and green beans and helped with the mirepoix. 

She’s also chill as all get out.  Part of that is her age and that we can just toss a book at her since she’s such a reader, but another part of it is that she has been all over the world since she was 4.  She’s done an 18 hour flight… twice.  A number of 16 hour flights.    And we get her around in public transit for the most part.  She’s good with chillin’ on transport and just reading until it’s time to stop reading.  We are all like that though…. J and I used to hate flying SD to ORD, now that would be a joke to us.  4 hours!  Nothing.  In Sept, going to Saigon, that was a 4 hour flight.  It was great.  I sat.  Chilled.  Got in the air and pulled out my EarPods, turned on tunes, and got to read for about 2.5 hours.  Stretched and went to the restroom.  Closed my eyes for about 45 min and then landed.  Easy. 

 In all of this, though, we get to have some laughs.  Some fun.  In a cool place.  With a lot of nature around us.  Constantly exploring, finding parks, finding pockets of green and space to run, play, and be us.  To let the girls be them.  To climb and monkey around.  To just let Kiddo get the Kiddo out and be… Well…. Kiddo!  

Even if it’s just at home, climbing the walls and being a goof.

It’s never dull and always a laugh.  We kind of let Kiddo take the wheel and if not, we have the focus of Kiddo at the wheel.  We are just borrowing time, space, and the planet until she’s old enough to pass it on to her kids and then them theirs.  Since we are borrowing it, we try to do our best to not mess it up and also make the focus of it how to best instill it back to her in best shape once we’re done with it.  So, we fill the tank with love, fun, laughter, and all the rest.

Let’s go Kiddo… Time to take the wheel and lead.  On the path, hopefully… On the path!  STRAIGHT!  OH GOD, WE’RE GONNA DIE!!!!! HAHAHA