When Adam turned two and a half, he started having nightmares. Developmentally, that's about the age when nightmares begin, so we weren't surprised when he started to wake up screaming. It's the content of the nightmares that's been interesting.
Initially, he had a series of nightmares in which animals (cows, goats at the petting zoo, ducks at the duck pond) would try to eat his fingers. I can see how having a farm animal eat your fingers would, indeed, be terrifying.
Last night, though, he woke up screaming and when we went to his room he was inconsolable.
"My supper! My supper! Don't take my supper! I want one more bite of macaroni! Mommy! Daddy! Don't take my supper! No!"
My son's worst nightmare? That we'll clear his plate before he's finished eating his supper. At least his priorities are in order.