Do we have to go through the same thing every night?

I made the most gorgeous tortila espanola tonight. You didn't know whether to eat it or date it, it was that gorgeous. Violet likes every single ingredient in it: eggs, potatoes, onions, salt, oil. But when I sat it down in front of her, she pushed her plate away so hard it splattered onto the floor.

"No like it!" she huffed. "No eat it! Never never."

I would like to throw her damn plate right out the window. But instead I have to be patient mom.

"Oh honey, just sit here with Daddy and I then and talk to us. You can drink your milk, and just sit. You don't have to eat."

Two minutes later, she'd tried the tortilla. "Like it, mom!" she enthused. "Eat! Eat eat eat!"

Why can't we go there first? Why is there always a no before there's a yes? When I want her to take anything I have to ask her twice. Water, Violet? No? What about now? And she almost says yes the second time I ask. What is that?

Time for me to chill out a bit right now, I'd better get off the computer. Phil's put Violet to sleep in the other room and fallen asleep himself; in a few minutes he'll come out and we can spent some couch time together.