I wasn’t trying to look for keeray in your post. I even admitted that I’ve made such comments myself. I was neither defending the aunty who made the comment to your daughter…nor was I attacking your daughter. I tried to look at it from a broader view. I even mentioned that sometimes even the most simplest comments can come across as harsh due to the manner one says it in.
I told one of my fifth grade students that his little brother was so cute and that I’m going to steal him. He knows I’m kidding…because I’m his teacher…and he knows I joke around quite a bit with my students. There’s familiarity and trust between us. The age of the child (younger children can be more gullible)…and even familiarity can be contributing factors as well. You naturally doubt the intentions of people you don’t feel close to or familiar with.
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