She wasn't trying to be rude. She was just stating an opinion. But it still hurt. I made a chicken casserole for dinner, a recipe I got from my sister, who had cooked it for my family a couple times. Since my kids loved it, I decided to make it at home. I don't recall what I did differently that made my daughter unhappy, but she decided it wasn't nearly as tasty as the casserole my sister had made, and she told us all. Her hasty words stung. After a quick argument in my head, I smiled at my child. I realized I had a choice; I could be upset, or I could let it roll off my shoulders. So I agreed with her. "Yup, you're right. But I still make the best manicotti." As a mom, there will be times when our children hurt our feelings. Sometimes the situation is a little more complicated than a comment at dinner. Maybe your children have a favorite parent, and it's not you. Maybe they don't like the way you dress or style your hair. Maybe they complain often about not getting toys … [Read more...]