Small Victories

Made sausage-kale-white bean stew for lunch. Gave the kids small bowls with cheese on top. Annaliese was trying to negotiate the amount she had to eat; I said, I don't want to hear one word about your food until your bowl is empty, and then you get a reward.

Silence.

Then, Mama look.

I look. she's holding up an empty bowl.

Great job, I say.

She grins. Then says, but I don't want to eat it ever again in my whole life. I hated it.