Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 5:00 AM Mimi
Knight.jpgMimi Greenwood Knight   Raising twelve children my mom
amassed an arsenal of parenting tricks-of-the-trade. Here's one
of my favorites. When she wanted to introduce a healthy food
into our diet, she'd prepare it in a small, pretty casserole
dish--instead of the huge pots she usually used--and announce,
"Here's a little something I made for your dad. You're welcome
to try it but you don't have to."  Of course, we all scrambled
for a serving of Dad's special treat. The old man was lucky to
get any. Mom would wait a few days and serve it in her usual
large portion. Someone would announce, "Wow! Zucchini for
everybody!" and from then on it was a family favorite.  Now that
I'm the mom you can bet I haven't forgotten that and her other
stealthy parenting strategies. (Two kids sharing the same snack?
Have one cut it in two. Let the other choose his half first. You
never saw a kid work so diligently to divide a treat exactly
down the middle.) Plus I've a