They say that making affirming statements engenders positive attributes in a family. I’ve worked on repeating several at regular intervals since I first heard this parenting tip. The kids can complete them after hearing the first word or two: “Dixons never quit!” “Wickedness never was happiness!” And, to nip the pleading and the whining in the bud, “You can only PRAY if it’s your DAY!”

Tonight, a new affirming statement was born. As we sat around the table talking about our best and worst, Jared let out a zinger. “My worst part was that my friend Jordan called me a nerd.” Hurt was obvious on his face.

We all offered advice. The mother bear in me: “Well, if Grandma Harris were here she would tell you to kick him in the shins! And I think you should!” Seth, reassuring: “I find the name “Nerd” to be a compliment. Hey, I call myself a nerd, and I think it’s great!” Caroline, commiserating with newly learned kindergarten wisdom: “Emma Sattler used to be my friend. And now I don’t play with her because she’s rude!”

We pondered the fact that anyone being mean is just trying to fill up a hole in their psyche, something the kids like to call “Having issues.”

Finally, we remembered that there are FOUR Dixons at Lena Whitmore. Including one very large, burly, sixth-grade Dixon. We could take anyone on, anytime they insulted one of us! Then, Mike uttered our new family statement: “Yeah . . . like they say in Mexico, you fight one bean, you fight the whole burrito!”