Food intervention

Oh, 11-year-old Katie. 
You have so much to learn about reality. In a society where people incessantly judge others according to appearance, beliefs and behaviors, I feel it necessary to stage an intervention with you regarding your bizarre eating habits. You see, in the real world, Mom cannot oversee the segregation of your peas and grilled chicken to ensure the lack of sharing of foreign juices or flavors. I predict that these eating habits will prove themselves as not only a hindrance to your desperate taste buds, but also to your social acceptance. First let's address the most disturbing Katie vs. food conflict: pizza. As sketchy as the ambiguity of the contents under the cheese may seem, I promise that this problem does not, in fact, justify your habit of scraping off the cheese. I foresee many unforgiving glares at birthday parties and more importantly, a ton of perfectly greased cheese going to waste. On to the next one: your defiance to drinking milk sans chocolate syrup. What do you plan on doing when the mother of your best friend hands you a tall glass of white milk at breakfast after your sleepover? Spoiler alert: Plugging your nose while consuming something you consider unpalatable is only socially acceptable for so long. I suggest that you acquire the taste for white milk to improve this reaction. Also, I can divulge that breakfast eating took a 180 after experiencing cereal with milk for the first time. Another reason to take the plunge into drinking white milk transpires as the fact that in a few short months, you will notice a change in the taste of your favorite chocolate milk beverage. That change serves as Mom's way of forcing vitamins down your throat the only way possible: via Pediasure, the drink that pretends to be chocolate milk. This leads me to my next bone to pick with your abnormal eating habits. The first time you will choke down a pill successfully will not take place until freshman year, so I would start practicing if you wish to nip Mom's Pediasure antics in the bud. Lastly, I think I speak on behalf of the entire nation when I express the offense caused by your lack of patriotism when you request a hamburger in place of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Forget that gravy consists of turkey giblets. Forget that the consistency of mashed potatoes reminds you of something I'd rather not put into text. And forget that the turkey must first be stripped of its insides before cooking and eating. If you let your taste buds override your conscience for just this night, I promise that you won't regret it. I prophesize that upon applying these changes to your life, you will acquire a more adventurous appetite, opening your mind to foods outside of your previously miniscule dietary comfort zone. 
Sincerely,
The future food connoisseur, Katie

"Grandma-sitting"

While babysitting for two families, each with three children, last August, I faced an unexpected, yet extreme experience. The six kids and I played a grueling game of Capture the Flag and we concocted an interesting version of mac-n-cheese layered with ketchup. However, neither the dangerous game in the street nor my incompetent cooking skills led to “extreme babysitting,” but my simple act of kindness towards Valerie, the live-in grandmother. She conquered polio at an early age, but remained paralyzed from the waist down, isolating her to her bed where she sat eating the ice cream cone I gave her. I often hear noises of discomfort coming from her room, so her coughing did not alarm me at first. But when I realized how long she had been coughing, I knew I had to leap into uncharted territory. Thankfully, I had called 911 before. But, unthankfully, it had only been to report a stray dog. I had no preceding experience to help guide me through that stark reality that someone’s life was in my hands.  I needed help. I have no recollection of what I said to the 911 operator on the phone, but I do remember the adrenaline and a surprising ability to remain calm that drove my actions. The kids were my next priority- the terrified looks on their faces spurred me to round all six of them up and assure them that everything would turn out okay, just like anyone looking into those 12 hopeful eyes would. Ordering them not to leave the basement, I flew upstairs where Valerie was still choking, and I did everything I could, considering my lack of upper body strength, to prop up her inert body. After an eternity, the ambulance arrived. Within that time, I had experienced an unknown range of emotions from intense fear to effective confidence. This extreme occurrence ejected me from my comfort zone and taught me that such challenges can catch us off guard even in everyday experiences, on the most mundane of days.