Then she would have gone downstairs to see exactly how it happened. After completely understanding, she would have said, “It could have happened to anybody…next time make sure you don’t have anything around accept the ingredients to your experiment.” Then I would have hugged him again and encouraged him to go self report to his mother too.

I would come with him to self report because I know it would be a hard thing for him to do, and then I would give my (wife in this case a look that said, “be sure to understand him, he needs assurance.”

After he self reported I would praise him again for choosing the right thing and then have a quick talk with him about how much better he feels for choosing to report his mistakes.

In short my interaction with my child would be less about the tablecloth and more about how my son could grow from this experience, and the things he has learned.

Jason, I think you did good with your son! The only problem with the Calvin story is that the dad freeked out first. I am glad to see you didn’t do that part of it. You took the good and left the rest.

Freeking out when a child tells the truth is what they are afraid of. If we show them that it is always safe to talk to us, then the lines of communication will stay open and the trust in the family relationships will create a strong, happy family.

By the way, I am glad to see you are excited about my book. Yours is in the mail as we speak. I put it in a few days ago. Enjoy!

Nicholeen Peck