The More You Say 'It's for Your Own Good', the More Children Want to Avoid You—Try Wording It Differently
Have you ever heard—or said yourself—this sentence— “I’m doing all this for your own good.” The one who says it usually means it with all their heart. Afraid you’ll get cold, afraid you’ll be taken advantage of, afraid you’ll take a wrong turn. And yet strangely, such a well-meant sentence often makes the listener shrink their shoulders—even want to stay away. This isn’t anyone being ungrateful. Nor is anyone being overly sensitive. Let’s take this sentence apart, and perhaps we’ll see where that knotty tension comes from. ...