“Dad… My Back Hurts So Bad I Can’t Sleep. Mom Told Me Not to Tell You.” I Had Just Walked In From a Business Trip

“What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

Good.

Children should not be required to comfort adults over consequences adults created.

PART 41 — WHAT SARAH SAID

Eventually Lily chose to tell me.

Sarah said:

“I kept thinking if you behaved better, I’d be calmer.”

Then:

“But I was the grown-up.”