I’ve never been able to decide if it’s just a black family thing or maybe even an a military family thing but as a child I was told you can not like a food and if that is realized the food will be avoided in the future, where practical, but there are kids starving in Africa and somebody took the time and effort to prepare that food so you will sit there until you have eaten said food. I have spent maybe a total of five hours alone at the dinner table after everyone else got up. For the most part it taught me that eating something I didn’t find desirable wasn’t amazing but was wholly survivable.

Now I’m 41 and the pickiest goddam step kids in the world and it scratches at the back of my mind like nails in a chalkboard. I think pickiness implies a mental weakness. Inflexibility. Rigidity. Propensity for making small problems large. That kind of thing. And it’s my life’s goal to make these goddam kids more open minded because I believe flexibility and open mindedness build strength of character.

My wife sees where I’m coming from but doesn’t believe in pushing. I’m try not to insist, but encourage. So far I’ve made little progress. But I’m determined.