I was about 10. My Mom had just finished creating one of her amazing meals, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Delicious. Later, as I was washing the dishes, my Mom came up to me. "Sorry dinner was so awful again," she said.

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I was shocked. "What? No, it was great. I loved it."

 

"Really?" she said, with mock surprise. "You always eat so quietly, never saying anything. You've never told me you liked my cooking, so I thought you hated it."

 

"No, you're the best cook I know."

 

"Then you should tell me that," she said.

 

"Whenever someone does something nice for you, you should thank that person. If you don't, then she might think she's not appreciated and stop doing those nice things."