[That gets him to pout for a moment before he bounces back to his usual level of cheer.]

Of course I have, but I haven't always been specific about it! You were remarkably patient with me while I was still working out how to tell you important things without immediately dismissing them as unimportant or otherwise acting like... well, like everything was fine, even when it wasn't.

...Especially when it wasn't.

It really does mean so much to me that you would help me with that, even if it wasn't always appreciated at the time!