That's great, omnis!

"No" has never been a problem for me, ever. The other half, giving orders, "you must do this" and imposing consequences when people don't that is tough.

That's terrific, o_a! I hope your dad continues to improve.

I didn't have much trouble setting boundaries as a teacher in a nearby community college. It's a great gig. You don't have to deal with parents, and you can tell the students, "You're free to not do the homework, not show up, not act appropriately in class, and not study. And I'm free to flunk you. For anyone who wants to avoid that, here's the syllabus. Let's get started."

Oh omnis, wonderful news!

I didn't have much trouble setting boundaries as a teacher in a nearby community college.

Ah, yes. Teaching is different (for me, anyway). I can set nice clear boundaries for students who don't turn in work, come to class late, etc. It's other adults I have more difficulty with. (I've worked mainly with 16- to 19-year-olds.)

Yay for good dad news!

They're adults and if they choose not to follow the very clear and gentle training we give, then they made their freaking bed.

Exactly. I am the easiest going nicest parent/boss in the world. If you screw up repeatedly it is your own fault. If you haven't been trained we will correct that, but I'm not going to tell you the same thing 5 times.

Dad is sitting in a chair and grumpy. No more tube down throat. Still sore tummy. Not eating or drinking yet. Hopes to be moved out of icu late today or tomorrow.

That sounds like great news. I hope the good news keeps coming.

I'm so terrified of conflict and I really want people to like me.

I have a really hard time with this on a personal level. It's important to me that, for example, the people who run the daycare or my neighbors, or whoever, like me. Professionally, though, being disliked doesn't bother me at all. Somehow, knowing that I'm "doing my job" makes it okay for people to not like me in that context. I suspect figuring out the source of the difference could be enlightening, but I haven't gotten there yet.

I'm so terrified of conflict and I really want people to like me.

This is easier to deal with as a boss than it is as a parent. Being the bad guy with your kids is much harder. That whole 'this hurts me more than you' thing is so true. When I need to ground them or whatever it makes me far more miserable. They get over it quicker than me.

Honestly, I can't tell you how many times I've thought, "Man, I so wish I could channel Vortex right now..."

Channel away! A good vortex beginning is "you know what, motherfucker . . ." Or polar bear. Whichever.