Scary Shrimp

Sure they aren't the most adorable animals in the world...but then again most meat products you eat come from rather ugly animals. Our family of three recently had the pleasure of going out for a semi-formal dinner while at the seashore. We were joined by my sister, her husband and her 2-year-old son. "Four adults and two booster seats" i say to the hostess.

We are escorted outside onto the 2nd story deck and it is no less than 90 degrees outside. Her choice in seating may be the fact that we have two young children OR may be the fact that we are relatively young and there for what most would consider the "early bird" special. Whatever, just bring us three pitchers of iced tea please. my son is about to dump his water on his head to cool off and my husband has the napkin around the back of his neck. We are fine, really.

Reading the menu is for the birds...when dining with a 2-year-old (two in this case) you need to have an idea of what you are ordering. i have been in the mood for seafood all day and i think its important to introduce all kinds of food to my son. Three pitchers delivered, "would you like more time", the waiter asks. "no" i say quickly and then add a smile b/c i realized it seemed a little rude. "I will have the surf and turf...medium well...and another water. My son will have the fried shrimp...and another cup full of ice (he managed to fish all the icecubes out of the other glass). Hubby - you've decided right....eerrrrr....ummmm....hubbyyyy!!!! Didn't you say something about the "precious cargo" entree?". Hubby, "um, yes, i would like that". OK - ordering is done.

Bread comes out...everyone's happy. Shade is starting to set in...a little breeze - ahhh...the beads of sweat above my lip have subsided. i can enjoy the conversation. We talk, we laugh...we scold, we move drinks out of 2-year-old's reaches. Our food is delivered in a timely manner - and he remembered to bring another pitcher of iced tea - BONUS POINTS for the waiter.

I prepare my son's food by breaking off the tails of the fried shrimp and putting some ketchup on the side for dipping. He is busy in his mashed potatoes and that's fine with me as long as he is eating. I get done his prep and place the plate in front of him after the shrimp have cooled a bit. I then begin enjoying my wonderful filet and lobster tail.

My son proceeds to dip the first shrimp into the ketchup and take a bite..."yes" i think to myself...small victory of him trying something new. To my surprise, he spits the bite back on the plate, picks up the other half and hands it to me and says "SSScccaaarrrryyyyy!". He wouldn't touch the shrimp. It scared him. i can't say that i blame him, my sister (who was at the table getting a chuckle out of his antics) used to chase me around the house with shrimp until i was about 8 years old.

What goes around comes around...but we all had a laugh.

My son ate some of my steak, some of my broccolli and some of Daddy's french fries. But i got a helping of fried shrimp with my dinner.

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