Understanding the need for tactfulness and passing it on to your
kids are two different things. The definition of tact is: “Acute
sensitivity to what is proper and appropriate in dealing with
others, including the ability to speak or act without
offending.”Â I really didn’t give this much thought until my
girlfriend got her hair cut and asked my 9-year-old son how he
liked it. He smiled his charming smile and said, “It’s cute, but
it makes your face look chubby.”Â I stood stunned. If I had the
power to vanish into thin air, I would have done it. Luckily,
the woman is a good friend, and she took the comment in stride.
It was a perfect opportunity for a lesson in tactfulness. The
problem I faced is the fact that he was being truthful. The
haircut did make her face look chubby, so the answer was
honestâ€¦just not tactful. I needed to find a way to help him
learn how to answer truthfully, but tactfully.Â When we were
home later that evening I brought it up. “How do you think Joy
felt when you told her that her fa