Be Careful How You Use the Word "Silly"

S came out of the playroom with a pillow, without its pillowcase, hugged against her body. She looked a little upset and I had heard frustrated voices from the playroom before she opened the door. Then the following interaction began:

Me: "What happened?"

S: "We were playing a pillow game and I got mad because she wouldn't throw the pillow back to me. Then, she tried to make me happy and she got upset because she couldn't make me happy." 

-- C came out of the playroom, visibly upset, at this point. I think she thought she might be in trouble.

Me: "why couldn't she make you happy?"

-- I assumed it was because the only thing S really wanted was to have the pillow back, and she wasn't going to be happy until she got it. 

S: "Because she wasn't doing things that make me laugh."

-- I smiled, looked at C, and I said something before I thought it through.

Me: "That just sounds so silly."

-- S understood what I meant. She couldn't hold back a huge smile and a giggle. C, however, pouted her poutiest pout and hung her head to hide her face. I instantly realized my mistake as the words were hitting my ears. You should never make someone feel like you think their feelings are silly. But that's not what I meant.

Me: "I don't mean that it's silly for you to be upset. I mean it sounds like you were being silly, trying to make your sister happy..."

-- I teared up a bit and made sure to smile and put a little light and a hint of laughter in my voice so she would understand what I meant when I said...

Me: "And that's so sweet it makes me want to cry."

-- I couldn't see the smile, but I could hear it, and I could see the apples of her cheeks just well enough to know she was grinning. 

Me: "Seems like everyone's happy, now."

When this world got me feeling low
I don't need nowhere else to go
Cause I get all the love I need, from
Three little girls

We're in the garden collecting snails
On the bed reading fairy tales
I get all I'll ever need from
Three little girls 

-Eric Clapton-