Frustration or Joy

Frustrations:
I will start with my frustration so I can get it off my chest. Lily has been particularly obnoxious in the last 15 hours or so. She likes to refuse to eat. I am not exactly sure where it comes from, but I have my suspicions that it is one way for her to have some control. I try to give her choices whenever appropriate. When it comes to eating, I don't make her eat. I also refuse to fix something different for her. We had soup last night.

She tasted it and said it was delicious and wonderful. Then proceeded to refuse to eat anything after the first couple bites. We had a playdate scheduled for 10 this morning. She got up this morning and I told her that we wouldn't go to the playdate until she ate the soup from the night before. She ate the first bit in decent time for her, but was refusing to eat the last three (literally) bites. I called our "date" in ear shot and explained that Lily was having a hard morning and that we might not be coming. As soon as I hung up the phone, the three bites were gone. It took her at least an hour and a half and then it was over in about 30 seconds. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joys:
I happened to have the news on while we had a picnic dinner (of pizza) in the living room. The local news put up a few pictures of children from Haiti. Nothing graphic - just sad faces. I was wanting to talk to Lily about Haiti at some point and let her shop for some ready-to-eat food giving her the opportunity to tangibly participate. Lily asked what was wrong. I explained to her that their houses fell down and they didn't have any food right now. "We need to put some in the car and help them." At first I thought she meant bring the children home, but she clarified herself. "We need to buy some food and take it to them. It is far away and we need an airplane."

We went shopping and Lily was allowed to pick out items. I asked her how many of each. "Seven" They got 7 cans of each food item and 7 gallons of water. We dropped them off in Danville at God's Pit Crew's drop off point while we were visiting Steve.

Reflection:
I know I need to focus on the joys, but there are times when that is hardly sufficient to persevering through the frustrations. I don't mean to come off as so negative. It is just where I am right now.