Isabel's Moment of Truth

Yesterday, I went to check on Isabel in the bathroom as she was washing up for bed.

"Mommy," she said. "I don't want to tell you something."

"Oh, really?" I replied. "What is it that you don't want to tell me?"

"I said a bad thing."

"Oh no! ... what bad thing did you say?"

Isabel hesitated for a minute, then whispered, "I said - You idiot!"

To which I replied, "You did?? Who did you say that to?"

"Myself!"

(I was trying very hard not to laugh at this point in the conversation, as she was quite serious about all this!)

"Ohhh," I said. "Well, did you tell yourself you were sorry? And that you wouldn't say that again?"

She shook her head no, and so I encouraged her to go ahead and apologize to herself ... which she in all sincerity did! And promised not to call herself names again!