Jim writes: We recently remodeled our kitchen, and my 10-year-old son wrote, “Are you eating cereal?” on the new countertop in invisible ink. We can’t see it unless we shine a UV light on the area. But I don’t think he should draw on any part of the house. He should also have additional cleaning chores for two weeks.
There’s probably a way to remove that invisible ink, but before you erase your son’s message forever, consider two things: 1) This is a good joke. He got one over on you in a clever and harmless way, and I think you should honor that more than punish. And 2) Time moves in one direction. In less than a decade, that counter will still be around — along with all the dings and stains it will inevitably accrue — but your son, like my own once-child, will be off to live his own life. Then no one will care if you are eating cereal. And then you will be desperately UV-lighting up everything in the house, looking for memories and watering that counter with the universal solvent: dad tears.
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