The Family Reacts.

The response from my family to this new challenge I am facing was very intersting.  My wife laughed and of course indicated I might not be able to do it.  (That was a very positive reporting of the event!)  After she was able to regain her composure and we discussed the implications further she took on a more serious tone.  We talked of her need for feeling supported in some future situation when she would be telling me of the troubles and how unfair someone has been to her, and my inability to say anything negative about anyone, leaving me with a simple statement of "I hear you".  The question being that in a relationship such as marriage is negative expression an important and perhaps indespensible ingredient?  I am blessed with an extremely good natured wife who is willing to go along with this thing and see where it takes us.  On the other hand she did seem to relish the idea that I could not say anything negative about her either.  My son lamented the loss of one of my pet names for him.  I affectionatley refer to him as "Dumbass" from time to time.  Wait, don't judge me too harshly.  It all arose out of our both enjoying the movie "Grumpy Old Men".  You see I say it with my best Walter Mathau impression and he laughs... or at least he used to laugh when I first started it.  My daughter's reaction was perhaps the most startling to me.  Over dinner last night with longtime family friends, one a minister, as we discussed my planned New Year resolution, my daughter took on a serious tone and brought the table to silence when she declared "I don't want you to do it."  She went on to explain that she likes me the way I am and my humor is part of that.  She said "This is going to change you, and none of us can be sure how?  So I don't want you to do it."  I was both touched and alarmed at the implications of her protestations.  First I felt loved as a father, but secondly I wondered what kind of messages must I be sending my daughter if she worries that my being less negative will somehow be a harmful thing.  After some thought I responded "Well, think of this, what if this experience proves that it really is possible to live one's life without saying anything negative about anyone ever?  What better gift could I give you as a father?"  She politely agreed, but I could tell she was not convinced.  I tried to act sure of myself and move on with the evening.  I wonder if she could tell that I was scared too?