Dinner tonight was meat, mashed potatoes, and peas. Sam is a good eater, but he never touches mashed potatoes. We continue to serve them to him anyway, just in case he changes his mind.

Sam devoured his peas, asked for more, finished those, asked for more, and on and on for about half an hour. Then we had this conversation:

Sam: “More peas?”
Me: “Finish the ones on your plate. Then I’ll give you more.”
Sam: “More peas?” (pointing to the bowl of peas on the table)
Me: “Look at all of the peas on your plate! Why don’t you eat those?”
Sam: (pointing at peas touching his mashed potatoes) “Dirty peas.” (then, holding a pea out to me) “Wash it.”