Very interesting thread. I train foster parents and youth counselors that work with severely emotionally disturbed children. One thing I stress to folks is that communication is (borrowed from Father Michael Oleksa) "Always approximate, and never exact." I think this is important to acknowledge, and be very open to actively pursue effective communication. That is, coming as close to what someone intended to communicate. So much strife and misunderstanding could be avoided if we could just learn to better communicate........