Everyone wonders if they have it.  For the most part, no one will tell you if you do.  Maybe your spouse will tell you but even if he does, he may be too gentle about it.  In not wanting to hurt your feelings, he basically “lets you off the hook” and you never treat the problem.  You know who will tell you the truth, the hard truth, without worrying about your feelings?  Your kid.  The younger they are the less regard they have for feelings as they don’t understand the concept of hurt feelings.

Case in point:

About a month ago I was putting Heidi to bed.  We always snuggle after I read her a story and before I leave her room.  This particular night we were facing each other and were nearly nose to nose.  Very quickly she said, “Mommy, don’t do that.”  I asked her “What?” and she replied, “Don’t put your ‘breaf’ on me.”  She then put her hand up between our faces to block my ‘breaf’ from making it to her face.

Fast forward to tonight.  Story.  Snuggling.  She rolls away from me, putting her back to me.  At the same time she says, “I’m going to lay this way so you don’t  ‘breave’ on me.”  I thought for a minute, my mind starting down the path to hurt feelings and decided to ask a question.  “Heidi, why don’t you want me to breathe on you?  Because my breath is hot or because it is stinky?”  Without a moment’s hesitation she says, “Because it is hot.”

So there you have it.  Brutal honesty from a newly 3 year old.  My breath is NOT bad!  Whew!