22. Absolutes often wrong
When my four children were young (four within six years), they often came to me with always, and everyone, and never. You always let him do that and not me. Everyone has that toy except me. I never get to go.
I would carefully explain that when they used an absolute, they were often wrong. I don’t always let him do that. Everyone doesn’t have that toy. And you sometimes get to go.
I made the mistake once of saying, “You know when you use absolutes, you are always wrong.” Oops.
It’s been interesting for me to watch myself and the absolutes and try to catch the times when I resort to them. And I gently interrupt others who use them, because often they are wrong. And I learn in the process.
