By the Power of Oatmeal: A Story About Kids, Food, & Gratitude

As a parent, there's no greater joy than watching your children grow into confident, accomplished individuals. I'm proud to say that Keith and I  have two amazing sons, both now in their 30s, who are truly rocking it in their respective careers. Josiah, always the storyteller, found his passion in theater directing in bustling New York City—1,200 miles away from my comfort zone. Meanwhile, Daniel, the one who was coloring inside the lines at the age of two, has flourished as an artist and animatronic creature designer in Kentucky.

People often ask us how we managed to raise two strong, successful, empathetic Black men. Parenting is often described as a series of 10,000 tiny choices—each one shaping the experiences and lessons we impart to our children. And sometimes, amidst the seriousness of raising responsible, respectful individuals, there are moments of levity that remind us of the joy and humor in parenthood. Allow me to share one such amusing anecdote—a story about food and gratitude.

When the boys were in elementary school, we started noticing some grumbling at the dinner table about the food choices. It seemed they weren't always thrilled with what was on their plates. We believed strongly in teaching our children to appreciate and respect the effort that goes into being able to afford and  prepare healthy meals, as well as the variety of foods available to us. So, we decided to take action.

The punishment fits the crime, as they say. The boys were told they would only be eating oatmeal, brown rice and water until further notice. After a couple days they quickly realized that the foods they had been complaining about weren't actually so bad after all.

Then came the surprise. After a week, without saying a word Keith took the boys out to Sonic Burger—a rare treat they hadn't experienced in what felt like ages. Their faces lit up with excitement and delight. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes. They understood that their complaints had consequences, but they also learned that appreciation and enjoyment go hand in hand.

From that day forward, something shifted. The boys began to police each other at the dinner table, jabbing elbows under the table if one of them dared to complain about the meal. They developed a newfound respect for the food on their plates and the effort that went into preparing it. And, perhaps most importantly, they learned the value of gratitude and perspective.

As parents, we don't always have all the answers. But we do our best to instill important values and life lessons in our children, even if it means getting a little creative with our approach. In this case, a simple mealtime lesson turned into a lasting reminder of the importance of respect, gratitude, and perspective—values that define our family to this day.