Chapter 25 - Food becomes food again
For months Lily asked:
“Is mine the bad one?”
Pizza.
Pancakes.
Cookies.
Anything served beside Ethan.
The first time, I nearly cried.
Then I learned not to turn every question into an emotional scene.
“No. Yours has cheese. His has pepperoni.”
Another time:
“Why is his bigger?”
“Because he is seven and asked for two.”
“Oh.”
Another:
“Grandma gave him the blue cup.”
“You chose yellow.”
“Oh yeah.”
Facts.
Ordinary differences.
Not all inequality is favoritism.
That distinction mattered.
I did not want Lily growing up scanning every plate for proof.
So we stopped making exact sameness the goal.
Fairness is not identical steak weight.
It is equal dignity.
Same right not to be humiliated.
Same chance to ask.
Same ability to say no.
Different preferences allowed.
May you like
That became healthier than:
Everything must match.
