The only thing I know that works is to change the context. Meaning, mostly, leave him at a friend’s house, where there are different eating rules, so you’re not around. Send him off to camp. Leave him alone in a room with some food you suspect he’s curious about, but won’t try with you around. That sort of thing.

It’s probably not going to happen at your normal dinner table, unless maybe it’s through some long, drawn out progressive process. Like make a new rule that he doesn’t have to eat what’s on his plate, but it has to stay on his plate. A stable rule that doesn’t change for a year or so, until that becomes normal, and then maybe you can progress to a “one-bite” rule.

If you see him eating something new, don’t make a big deal about his accomplishment. Dont’ say anything, or if you do, just treat it as matter-of-fact, as normal. The fear of embarrassment becomes greater than the fear of the food.

As for Dave Roberts, I think you have to get rid of him and one of the starters (Winn/Lewis/Rowand) before Schierholtz gets more playing time.

Great site, maybe just drop the A’s stuff and keep it all Giants? When I was a kid, about a decade ago, I used to stuff the food I didn’t want to eat down the throat of a toy T-Rex I had. The parents had a “you have to eat everything on the plate before you leave the table” policy. Oddly enough, the food would always be gone when I went to get the dinosaur for the next meal. I just figured he ate all those Brussel Sprouts.

I dont have any advice on the kid front as I’m not experienced in that field, but maybe provide some sort of incentive-based deal?

Also, is there any way you can somehow sneak into Sabean’s office and file the paperwork for DFAing Dave Roberts, so our .300 hitting Olympian can get in the lineup? That would be great. Thanks.

Great work though, always a fun read.