i called my sister and told her i had a Parenting Success. she asked if there is such a thing.

oh, there is.

little hal, lately, has been throwing all his food on the floor. i’ve scolded, i’ve frowned, i’ve ignored, i’ve punished (ok, i’m not good at “punishing”). finally the light went on. i pulled the garbage can next to his little booster chair and said, “darling hal, when you’re finished with the food, put it in here.” he grinned. he gleefully tossed everything on his tray into the can. he begged for another biscuit, ripped it into small pieces, and chucked it in on top of his white bean soup. he laughed derisively.

he now asks for the garbage can when finished with a meal.

and that, my friends, is a Parenting Success.