Mean Things in a Nice Way

“My mommy says mean things in a nice way” he told our occupational therapist, and it was true. I did say mean things in a nice way. I said everything in a nice way. I said things that seemed mean to a four year old, and things that seemed mean to me, and I said them in a nice way so that maybe I could trick us both that they were not so mean. “It’s time to put your shoes on NOW” through gritted teeth, smiling kind of, but mostly almost growling. The shoes were a real problem. 

“Be careful. Be gentle. Tell me what’s wrong. Listen to your body. Calm down. Take a deep breath.” Trying, trying, trying in a very nice way. 

There’s nothing mean at all about guiding your 4 year old boy through a world that has suddenly become so new you’re learning it for the first time, too. 

You did it all in a nice way.