It's The Way You Say It

The words you choose are important, but the tone and inflection and meaning you put behind them makes or breaks the moment.

For example: as a pre-driving teen I had a little trouble on a three-wheeler while spending the weekend at a friend's place. Soft gravel road, a bridge, and my inexperience culminated with the vehicle in the creek, me dangling from the rail, the family racing to the scene and much shouting and screaming from all parties (Really. I was not the only one shrieking like a girl)

I was uncomfortable, and not just because I was hanging from the railing staring at the wrecked three-wheeler drowning itself in the creek. Naturally I felt awful for what I'd done and the damage I'd caused.

My friend's family was kind and gracious and worried more for my well-being than the certain expense to the vehicle. Aside from a splinter or two, I was fine.

Until my friend's little brother decided to comfort me. The words, "It's all right. We know you didn't MEAN to wreck the three-wheeler" and all variations on that theme were incessant in the hours after the accident. It got so bad I started wishing I'd gone into the creek and the three-wheeler had run off on its own to flatten the child...but I digress. His mouth ran so fast and long in the name of comfort his parents even sided with his sister and told him to stuff a sock in it. Honestly, those words still haunt me on quiet nights in the woods with a creek chattering nearby...but I digress again.

When offering comfort, I recommend keeping it short and simple and sticking to the positive. I had a flat tire yesterday (that I couldn't change, but that's another post) and I had to scramble the armed forces, 411, and the back up plan for carpool. Unfortunately for my daughter one of her friends decided to stay with her until I arrived. Before I could get word to my daughter about the sitch, this friend kept blurting such unhelpful comments as:

"Gee, I hope nothing's happened."
"She's never this late."
"Do you think she's been in an accident?"
"She always calls you right? Whatever could be wrong?"
"What will you do if she's hurt?"

This, is not comfort, it is exacerbation of anxiety and promotion of dramatic tendencies and we need LESS of both. So think before you speak and keep it positive, people, lest someone find a sock to silence you.

Regan
the primary reason three-wheelers went off the market-
and author of the action packed Justice Incarnate
and the YA fantasy Pixie Chicks.