Every mother knows that mealtime with little children has many ups and downs.
Some of the downs are those times when mealtime seems to be mostly spilled milk, untouched food, interruptions, and confusion. But on occasion, children eat surprisingly well. They come to the table eagerly, handle their utensils skillfully, offer no resistance, and cause little commotion. Rare occasions like that make you take heart and tell yourself that perhaps Mary is growing up after all and is learning how to eat. And what's more, you hope she's learning to enjoy eating.