Hurt Feelings

We've had a lot of sickness and fevers in our family the last month or so. Because of that my kids have become familiar with Tylenol and Ibuprofen. And since medicine for kids tastes so delicious now days, my kids love it! I haven't had them try to take it without me being around, since I usually have it out of reach plus they have child proof lids, but they do ask to for medicine.

The other day Z started complaining about his feelings being hurt. I just dealt with it and moved on. Over the next day or two he kept complaining about hurt feelings.

Then, the other night, he walks into my room holding they Tylenol I had just given W in his arms. He looked at me and said, "My feelings are hurting."

That is the moment I realized, he has no idea what "hurt feelings" are.

"Z, do you know what it means to have hurt feelings?"

"Huh?"

"Hurt feelings means that you are sad. Medicine isn't for hurt feelings."

"Oh," is his dejected reply.

Interestingly, he has not complained of hurt feelings since!