Thursday, July 14th, 2011 12:01:16

Character Development

I’m not sure how it started, but at some point over the past year, when my children begin to relate some hardship in their lives — tough tests, tough teacher or coach — I began responding that they should think of the obstacle as “character development” rather than as an insurmountable challenge.

“Character development.”

I must have been using this phrase more than I realized, and of course it has come back to haunt me.

Last week, my daughter used it when I was telling her all that was happening in my life: my mother in the hospital (she is getting out today), my father running for president, loads and loads of dirty clothes, and two children on summer vacation.

“Think of it as character development, Mom.”