Independence

Lately Zina has been asserting her independence at the dinner table.  No matter what I make she will find something she refuses to eat because she doesn't like it - even if she loved it the day before.  Tonight we had hamburger soup with cabbage in it.  Zina started crying because we told her she had to eat her soup, cabbage and all.

Zina "WAAAAAAA I don't like cavvage take it off" (cabbage on the spoon - and yes she really thinks it's called cavvage)

Mama, "How do you know you don't like it? You haven't even tried it."

Zina stops mid-wail to give me the look of death, "Yes, I did... long ago. Silly.  You're wrong." Glare.  And since mom and dad both started laughing the bawling turned to giggling.  

We can usually get her to try a bite if she plugs her nose while doing so.  As soon as it hits her mouth she pretty much always grins and says, (in a chirpy little voice) "I like it."  It only took us 20 minutes to get there.  She's a little on the stubborn side. Inherited that from her father...