It's Pho Delicious! (teaching your little kids the joy of vietnamese food and culture - in the cultural wilderness of Northern Virgina!)

The manager at my local pho place was kind enough to take a pic of my kids slurping noodles with pretty good skill with chopsticks! I don't know who was more thrilled. It's like a school cafeteria - except the food there is edible!

What I do with the kidlets is look for the kiddie pho. It's usually just broth and noodles. I order that for them, then order my regular size pho with beef brisket (really tender, and mild tasting). Then ask that "my" meat be put in "their" bowl. (this gets you bonus "good asian mommy" points - and the kids meat is free of "vile" green bits). I get spring rolls so that I don't feel meat deprived. Take the plate that is under the HUGE bowl of broth and noodles - chopstick out the meat, chopstick out the noodles, and let them at it. Snug them close to the table, and tell them it's ok to eat with fingers and make a mess. Once they are comfy with this, go to the nearest asian supermarket, buy the trainer chopsticks* and practice having them pick up mini marshmallows and gummi bears and other sticky stuff at home. Once they are semi good, hit the pho place and let them practice. (schedule this for bath day, fyi). Remember thought.......it's polite to the busboy to semi-tidy the table. Leaving a mess behind you is tacky, so after the mess is made, praise them when they clean up. This sometimes nets you freebies on future visits, or at least the red carpet treatment. This is also a good opportunity to teach useful phrases like "gracias" and "agua, por favor?" Yes, many cultures are present at non-american restaraunts! Think deeply discounted language and etiquette lessons, accompanied by yummy food.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293921-s604/Vietnam:Important.Phrases.html

Your young kids prob will not need 21-23. 31 is iffy. 33 is also iffy depending on whether they are being served pho by their nanny/caregiver.

Older daughter is 7 and is getting to the point where she wants to take her trainer chops apart and do like mommy. But she can't. So she tries it, then clicks them back together and slurps noodles. It'll happen when she is ready.

Pics like this make the trump card for "but homeschooled kids don't get the opportunities that regular kids do!" Slam that photo down and say "I'm sorry, and you were saying? And my kids speak a half dozen languages now - how is your little one doing?"

Yes, I'm an evil bitter homeschooler. Sue me. It's cheap food, it's low fat, it's winter and soup is good in winter. And they are learning every day that every culture is valuable. Why not. Pho = Fun. At least in our house. Every time we go to Pho Today the kids are praised by random people on politeness, language skills, and general cheerfulness. Beats mystery meat, fries, and chocolate milk any day of the week.

*can't find them? put down a comment, and I'll be happy to send you a pair. Or go to Amazon.com. We like the http://www.amazon.com/Pororo-Little-Penguin-Second-Chopstick/dp/B003PSD2R2/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1350622875&sr=8-7&keywords=trainer+chopsticks

If the finger loops annoy you or your kids - ignore them. Mine did and learned just fine. But some kids love the loops - your mileage may vary. With many trainer chopsticks, you can remove the loops.

Have fun. Have Pho. ;)