MD, no, i always do misunderstand the situation the first time you describe it.

From what you say, it sounds like they just want to win the argument. For the t, then, yelling is probably the rightish response. The point is for you to feel secure about what you are feeling, maybe not necessarily to convince the other person. Cuz i think, the closer you get, the farther apart it can feel.

As for mother - i cant even go there. My relationship w my mother was horrid. She wanted somebody else for a kid - just not me!

ETA - AND i am sorry, i didnt mean to sound snarky, like about the tickling. That was a real problem when i was growing up, i had no power to stop it.