How to know when you've communicated enough

You've communicated enough when your audience begins to communicate, on your behalf, with itself.

This morning Scout was grumbling about how hard it is to focus on the ISAT tests. I realized I was hearing preemptive excuses.

And so—still in bed—I began to intone sternly (think Gregory Peck, in To Kill A Mockingbird), "Scout ...."

But I actually wasn't sure what I was going to say next.

"I know, Dad," she said, "I need to bear down."