You can't erase words.

Written by OHmommy

Thursday, 28 February 2008 19:00

Every time Jay and Lola bicker I remind them that we are the OHmommy family and the OHmommy family uses nice, happy, and kind words. Because the OHmommy family is a nice, happy, and kind family. They get it. I know it is very Sesame Streetish, but they get it.

"We have so many friends that love us BECAUSE we are a nice, happy, and kind family." And they get it. We count our friends and think about the people who lovingly surround us. And it has worked.

Until.

Until, recently.

"You are ruining MY life!" Lola screamed at sensitive Jay. I stopped what I was doing. I was speechless and frightened by the power of her words. Where. In the world. Did she learn to say that? And. How old is she?

"Lola! LOLA! Those words are horrible." I grabbed her with some force and planted her on my knees. "Look at Jay's face. His face is telling you that you hurt his heart. His heart is so sad!" Lola frowned. Jay was near tears. The sadness in his eyes was clear, for no one has ever spoken like that to him before.

"I'm sorry, Jay." She can't look him in the eyes. My OHmommy lecture won't work. They have heard it too many times before. I needed to think fast and think like a four year old. Fast. Simple. Think. Before I lost the teaching moment. Fast. Think.

"Words. Words come out and you can't erase them. Never." I started and I spoke with more volume and more passion. "Words are like toothpaste. When they come out, you can't put them back in." I saw my children nodding along in agreement.

Both of them, children of a dentist, listened to every word. And I realized then, that I was brilliant. There is a new lecture in the OHmommy house.

"You can't erase words." I repeated myself and hugged them both.

It is so simple. So brilliant. It is something that I believe in and I want my kids to believe in.

Jay smiled. Lola sheepishly smiled. And I smiled knowing that I just taught them a great lesson in compassion. You can't erase words.