My 10-year-old daughter always rushed to the bathroom as soon as she came home from school. When I asked, “Why do you always take a bath right away?” she smiled and said, “I just like to be clean.” However, one day while cleaning the drain, I found something. The moment I saw it, my whole body started trembling, and I immediately…

again later, when the moment feels better, kinder, less likely to frighten your child.

So I let the silence stand.

“I guess that’s not a bad habit,” I said instead.

She nodded without looking up. “Yeah.”

That night, after she went to bed, I stood in the doorway of her room longer than usual.

The soft yellow glow of her nightlight spread across the blankets,continue reading …