what kind of animal are you?

This was the question we spent asking The Boy for the entire dinner time last night.

OMG, we're so smart! Genuises!

You see, The Boy has been on a bit of a food strike as of late. I know the doctors tell you that your child won't starve himself, and as long as you offer food on a regular basis, it's all good. Your child might eat more one day and less another day, but it all averages out. Don't worry. Hmmm... I see their logic, and I know they're right. BUT, it doesn't make me feel any better when I'm putting The Boy to bed knowing all he's had to eat all day is a half a breakfast bar, a handful of blueberries, and a piece of cheese.

So, last night at dinner, we made a game. It helps that we have recently been to the zoo. We'd ask The Boy "what kind of animal are you?", and he would smile. We'd say "Are you a giraffe?", and he'd say "noooo....", "Are you a bear?", "noooo....", and we'd keep asking different animals until we hit upon one that he seemed to like, and the answer would be yes. Then we'd say "Oh! You're a chimpanzee! Show me how a chimpanzee eats!" The Boy would enthusiastically show us that a chimpanzee loves his pasta, and he would take a few bites. Then we'd have to start over and find a new animal that The Boy wanted to be right then.

It turns out that lions and orangutangs are the best eaters. Lions don't even use utensils or their hands or anything, they just put their face directly in the pasta bowl and eat like that.

We were so proud of ourselves for discovering that this game would make The Boy eat. We had finally outsmarted him. Until - - -

It turns out that there are some animals that refuse to eat, too.

Game over (insert death of Pac Man noise here).