There comes a point, when you spend hour after hour, day after day with your little one, that when they give you a look, you can by now, read exactly what that looks means.

‘Mom, for crying out loud this is em-bar-rassing. There is a maximum number of kisses you can give me in a day.’ 

‘Please don’t tell me one more time to be careful or to watch where I am going or to stand still. I heard you the first time. I just forget sometimes.’

‘You taught me sign language to communicate with you, so when I sign MORE food I really want more food. When I sign for MORE play I really want to play more not run errands with you. When I sign that I want MORE rocks to toss into the creek I really want more rocks.’

‘I am walking to my room, by myself. You are not to follow me. You are not to come in my room. You are not to talk to me from the other room. I will be fine playing with my blocks all by myself.’ 

‘When we are on a play date with our friends I thought we had a mutual understanding that you will sit and talk with the mommy’s and I will play with the kids. Please stick to the arrangement.’

 ‘Mom, I need you to stop dancing/singing/snort laughing/makingajoke right now. You are embarrassing yourself and in turn embarrassing me.’

Usually when I get one of these looks, I discreetly roll my eyes and chuckle to myself.

Those toddlers have such big personalities.

I’m curious, how do you handle your little one and the looks they give you? Do you have a favorite one?

grate in the ginger

crack in that egg

add the cilantro

in goes the green onions

all together now

rolling rolling rolling
do a little dance, dinner is almost done

Toddler Asian Turkey Meatballs + Cilantro + Spinach + Ginger

For Meatballs
1 lb organic free-range ground turkey or chicken
1/2 cup whole wheat or gluten-free bread crumbs
3 organic green onions, chopped
1/2 cup organic spinach, chopped
1 large organic egg
1 tbsp sesame seed oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
ground black pepper

For Sauce – Optional
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tsp coriander 
1 tsp sesame oil

Heat oven to 450. Brush a medium sized oven-safe baking dish or baking sheet with olive oil.

In large bowl, combine with hands the turkey, breadcrumbs, green onions, spinach, egg, sesame seed oil, soy sauce, ginger and pepper. Go on in there and get after it. Mix away.

To make sauce, combine all ingredients and microwave for 1 minute or heat on stove until just warm. Stir all ingredients together until the sugar is dissolved.

Form into 24 tablespoon sized meatballs and place in baking dish so that the meatballs are touching. Bake for 15 minutes and then brush with sauce. Bake for another 10 minutes. Brush with the sauce again. Let rest for 5 minutes. There will be some additional sauce that you can either brush on right before you serve or use as a dipping sauce. I don’t trust my toddler with a side of dipping sauce, so I kept it to brushing it on before I served it. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro when serving.

Pairs well with Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

2 cups cooked organic brown rice
1/2 lime, juiced
1 handfull chopped cilantro
2 tbsp organic butter
salt and pepper to taste

Make rice according to directions. Toss all ingredients into bowl and combine with rice.