We are just riding happily along in the car (for the first time in days! our fevers are finally gone)

Madeline: You know all of the bad things I do that you tell me not to do? I do those things because I am mad.

Me: It would be better if you told me that you were mad.

Madeline: That is the way I do it.

I always wonder what exactly is going on in her mind when she decides to tell me these things.
I don't tell her that she does "bad" things (as far as I can remember). I usually define things by nice or not nice, respectful or disrespectful, acceptable or unacceptable, etc. But, she often labels things as good or bad.

She is off to my mom's for a while, she has been dying to get out of the house. This morning she told me in the nicest way possible that she really didn't feel like playing with me today. She felt like she wanted to play with Grandma. Emma got to have a sleep over with Grandma and Grandpa last night and I think Madeline was feeling like it was HER turn.