Emilie McCormack

Ooh, that's good.

And when he said it, I was like, because it's also, I think it's actually true in any phase of life and not just in parenting.

But if you think, I'll just use me and my family as an example.

If my child is going to, let's say, confess something they did, confess a thought they're having and a feeling they're having towards me, my natural response is to want to be like, oh,

You know, or like, why would you, that's a big one.

Why would you do that?

When I do something stupid, I don't have a good why.

I was being selfish or I, you know, but the reaction will instantly tell, ooh, are you, is this a safe moment?

Like, can I bring these things to you?

Is it going to crush you?

Are you going to make me feel horrible?

And that, if I'm honest, that's my default a lot of times.

And so when he said that, it was like, that's for me.

And it has been so formative in moments that I'm actively in the moment.

You're like, I want to overreact.

And I'm just thinking, play it cool.

I want them to know like, nothing's going to rattle me.

And not in the sense that I don't care.

I mean, absolutely.

There may be tears.