I Surrender

I hated it when my Mom brushed my hair.
Anna hates it when I brush her hair.

The other day I was brushing Anna's hair.
I stopped brushing for a moment to reach for a barrette.
"Mommy, you're hurting me!"

Anna quickly realized that the brush was nowhere near her hair; I took this moment to savor the small satisfaction inherent in knowing that, surely, my point had been made.

And then:
"...You're hurting my feelings!"