With DD i keep precious things out of reach as much as possible and if she breaks something that upsets me i cry (not for her benefit, i do tend to cry when i'm sad) and i make sure DD can SEE me crying. I tell her exactly why i'm so upset (it's only happened once actually, i had a pair of beautifully decorated blown eggs made for me by friends who now have too many kids and too little time to make such things, hours and hours of work in each one, and she took them from my wardrobe and smashed them into a million pieces, i cried for about 40minutes with their broken pieces in my hands!) and how terribly sad it makes me and i let her comfort me if she wants to. I talk about it frequently for the next few days - though i am loving to her if DP says "how are you" i will say "i'm so sad because my eggs are broken". I don't grudge-bear in the sense of being colder towards her, but i don't hide my sadness. I might genuinely not feel much like playing, or not smile as much, and DD will notice. Whenever i am sad and she comments i tell her why and let her hug me and tell her that it helps to know she cares and is sorry.

If i had a less perceptive child i don't know what i'd do - make more fuss i suppose! Luckily i only have the kid i have!

Bx