Mommy might be dearest, but father knows best.

Michelle looked at her youngest daughter sitting at the kitchen table, arms crossed defiantly with the neck of her t-shirt pulled up over her mouth. For the life of her, she could not figure out why this kid refused to eat. 

It started yesterday at lunch when Michelle had served up the standard PB&J, crusts removed and sliced into quarters, just the way Ella liked it. But instead of happily accepting the sandwich as usual, Ella had pushed it away.

Dinner last night was the same thing. The chicken nuggets and tater tots were a bust. And the pancakes this morning that Michelle had specifically shaped into Mickey Mouse faces, no-go.

So far, everything she had tried to entice Ella had failed. She hadn’t so much as taken a nibble in three meals. But Michelle had one more trick up her sleeve: canned ravioli. Ella absolutely loved it.

When Michelle set the bowl of ravioli down in front of Ella, the toddler’s eyes lit up. Michelle did a little happy dance behind Ella’s back when she reached for the spoon. Ella scooped up one of the orange-sauced squares … and flung it across the kitchen. It splatted against the refrigerator and slid slowly down to the floor.

“Ella!” Michelle yelled. “That was very bad! We don’t throw food in this house!”

Just then, Tim walked into the kitchen.

“Tim! Do you see what your daughter did! She refuses to eat, and she just chucked that ravioli!”

“Well of course she won’t eat,” said Tim. “You’re not using her My Friend Emily Feeding Set.”

Tim grabbed the bowl out of the cabinet, dumped the ravioli in it and set it in front of Ella. He handed her the matching spoon and she immediately started eating. She swung her legs back and forth and hummed happily as she munched.

“There’s also a plate and fork. Make sure you use them at dinner tonight.”

Michelle stared disbelievingly, her mouth agape.

Tim grabbed a soda out of the fridge and cracked it open. As he was leaving the kitchen he called back, “Oh, and don’t forget about the matching sippy cups. She prefers apple juice."

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