Review of Her Toddler's Pretend Restaurant

"My two-and-a-half year old, Lily, has opened what she calls "The Cafe Restaurant," and although the service is terrible, the food inedible, and you have to sit on the living room floor, it has become one of my favorite eating destinations of all time....

"Here's an example of a typical ordering experience:

Lily: Order something, please.
Mom: OK, do you have coffee?
Lily: No. No coffee at the Cafe Restaurant. Only water and tea.
Mom: OK, tea please.
Lily: No tea. Only water.
Mom: OK, water.
Lily: Do you want coffee?
Mom: Well ... actually, yes.
Lily (Handing me a toy tomato) Here."