Iron Will

This kid seriously has an iron will. I didn't realize there were people in this world as stubborn as I. So tonight Ava refused to eat any of her dinner except her bread (typical lately). So I saved the dinner and told her that she needed to eat it before any snacks/desserts. Of course, about an hour later, she wanted a snack. She conceded to eat the dinner first. When she was ready for her dessert of bananas and yogurt, I asked her to please eat one more bite of meat and one more bite of corn first. Sure! She popped them right in her mouth, even followed by a "Yum!"

I prepared the bananas and yogurt. She got ready to take a bite, when I realized she still had corn and meat in her mouth. "Ava, please swallow your food before you eat your dessert." Her solution? Spit it out? "No!! Don't spit it out, just swallow it." Hmmm...she just continues to chew. And chew. And chew. And chew....

"Ava, you may not have your dessert until you swallow your food." No problem...she won't take dessert.

Ava sees Gretchen playing outside on the front sidewalk and wants to go join her. "You can go out and play with Gretchen as soon as you swallow that bite of food." Hmmm...she'd rather not play with Gretchen than swallow that single bite.

After about 20 minutes of this, I asked her if she would rather swallow her food or go to bed. SHE CHOSE GOING TO BED!!! So we get on pjs, get our taggie, and get in bed. Then, of course, she starts crying - I don't want to go to bed! "No problem, Ava, you can get up, play with Gretchen, and have your dessert if you just swallow your food." Nope....not gonna do it. She gets back in bed.

FINALLY, after nearly 45 minutes of holding that food in her cheek, she swallows it. We get out of bed, have our dessert, and then throw a tantrum that Gretchen has already gone inside. My goodness....this girl is STUBBORN!! :)