TheMainKatie

We stayed at Homewood Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront, right on the boardwalk. There was an ocean right outside, a whole boardwalk, and plenty to do. Devon's favorite plan? Run to the elevator, pick the floor, and head for the little pool. I could have made the world's most detailed vacation itinerary and that elevator button still would've made the shortlist. Toddlers are excellent at keeping priorities clear.

The pool got easier one splash at a time

Getting his head wet was not Devon's favorite at first. This is familiar; bath time has been making that case for a while. But at the pool, he accepted it more and more as he played. The little pool was also a giant splash pad and kiddie pool, so it gave him a way to enjoy the water at his own pace.

Beach toys, crab play, and then… sand

Devon loved the beach and his sand toys. He even pretended to be a crab. The ocean current was strong, though, and he couldn't go past his ankles on his own. He wanted to get farther out, but having to depend on Mama and Dada to go deeper wasn't his favorite arrangement. Playing with us in the waves, though? He enjoyed that.

The sand eventually filed a very convincing complaint. Before an hour was up, Devon had so much sand in his eyes that he was really uncomfortable and more than ready for the pool. Fair. The crab portion of the day had run its course; it was time for the splash-pad portion.

Our kind of Myrtle Beach day

This trip had the ocean and boardwalk right outside, but the things Devon kept choosing were simple: the elevator, the pool, his sand toys, and playing in the waves with us. Nathaniel drove his own car and arrived separately, so he wasn't with us for the whole stay.

That is family travel with a toddler: you can have the oceanfront hotel, the boardwalk, and a plan, and the elevator button may still be the star. Then the pool wins, the beach is wonderful, the sand gets everywhere, and you adjust. I was trying to keep the whole trip in neat little boxes; Devon had a much simpler itinerary, and honestly, it worked.

If you have a picky toddler, you already know that sometimes whether they eat something has absolutely nothing to do with the actual food.

Apparently, with Devon, color matters.

Regular mashed potatoes?

Not exciting enough.

Bright blue mashed potatoes?

He ate at least three servings. 😂

Apparently blue mashed potatoes are a three-serving food. 😂

At this point, I’m not questioning toddler logic. I’m just using it to my advantage.

Getting Devon to eat can be a challenge, and sometimes I have to get a little creative.

We had mashed potatoes with dinner, and I decided to make his blue just to see if he’d be more interested in them.

It worked way better than I expected.

He ate one serving. Then another. Then another.

I stopped counting after at least three servings.

No bribery. No negotiating. Apparently all these potatoes needed was a new color.

There are moments in parenting when you just silently agree with the other adult in the room:

Do not question it. Just keep giving him the blue potatoes.

The whole thing immediately made me think about Larry Fleinhardt from Numb3rs and his thing about eating white food.

I used to think that was hilarious.

It’s a little less funny now that I’m over here trying to figure out how to make everything I want my toddler to eat blue. 😅

Potatoes? We’ve got that figured out.

Milk? Also figured out.

Everything else?

Still working on it.

The blue-food situation actually isn’t new around here.

Devon likes to have his own little “coffee,” especially when the adults are having ours.

Before anybody gets concerned, there is no actual coffee and no caffeine in it. 😂

His version is just warm milk with a tiny sprinkle of blue spirulina, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a splash of non-alcoholic vanilla flavoring.

That’s it.

He gets his own special warm drink and gets to feel like he’s having coffee with us.

This is the blue spirulina I use for Devon’s drinks and food (paid link):
https://amzn.to/4ANycEA

I only use a little sprinkle in his milk. It doesn’t take much to give it that bright blue color he apparently finds so impressive.

I know parents get a lot of advice about picky eating, and sometimes it feels like every toddler meal is supposed to look perfectly balanced and Pinterest-worthy.

That is not always real life.

Sometimes you’re just trying to get your child interested enough in a food to taste it.

For Devon, making the potatoes blue made them fun.

Would he have eaten three servings if they had stayed white?

I seriously doubt it.

And that’s what makes feeding toddlers so ridiculous. The food can be exactly the same, but change the color, shape, plate, cup, or presentation and suddenly it’s acceptable.

Toddler logic makes absolutely no sense.

But if turning mashed potatoes blue gets him to eat three servings, I’m calling that a win.

Please tell me I’m not the only parent doing weird things to get a toddler to eat.

What is the funniest or most random thing you’ve done to convince your child to try something?

And if anyone has figured out how to make broccoli irresistible to a toddler, I’m listening.

Because at this point, if the answer is turn it blue, I will absolutely try it. 😂💙

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