Women, access 'kind moxie' and speak up

I was at the dentist the other day with my anxiety-prone daughter (she and

dentists don't mix). She needed to hold still for just a 10-second injection

after which pain would go away. But she was too worked up, so I needed to be

resourceful.I was motherly with calm, soothing words; then with

loving, firm tones; then with taking her by the hand and having a heart-to heart

talk of get-your-fanny-in-there-and-do-the-difficult-thing. Usually that works

but this time she saw the 4-inch needle and it was Round 2 of drama queen.At the end of my rope, and with my three other children in the waiting room

who would soon have an adventurous undertaking, the dental assistant suggested

nicely but firmly: "Why don't you go into the waiting room? She might play more

the adult role if you're gone."It clicked. She was absolutely right. I

gave my daughter a kiss, said she would be fine and walked out, despite her

desperate grasping for my hand.Within a minute or two, I heard her cry

(approaching injection), and about 10 seconds later, all was quiet. In 20

minutes she emerged victorious, with dental work done and ready for her token.

The dental assistant pulled me aside and apologized if she had been out of

place. I assured her she had not. I appreciate women with appropriate moxie —

those who know a situation, how to handle it, and do it in a kind but firm

way.Sometimes, ladies, what we need is "kind moxie." We worry so much

about being nice-nice (and usually it's not the annoying she-bear who worries

about this) that we tend to become a bit wimpish.In fact, I respect

women more who have the savvy to say what they mean. This is the good kind of

communication, and it's a great blend of confidence and knowledge. It's not mean