I will translate for you: "Serious, Mom. Serious!"
He feels important when I treat his issues as if they are real and valid.
His issues may seem trivial compared to the rest of the world, but they are important to him.
If it is important to him, it's important for me to acknowledge it. I don't have to agree with it, support it or give in to it, but I can acknowledge how much it means to him. Whatever the "it" is...candy, a toy, longer play time, it is important to him and I can appreciate that.
I love it when people acknowledge the things I think are important, like parenting, for instance! Ha, ha! And this website! Thank you for looking at this website!!
May you always have someone that appreciates the things that are important to you!
Love,
Alison