The Language Barrier...

Can I start off this blog by saying that I am completely stumped?  I’ve been practicing Russian using a software program I purchased online.  I’ve hire a tutor who will be coming by once a week to aid us in this.  But for the life of me I cannot think of what phrases I want to learn to speak to the girls. 

I want to tell them are safe, that we love them, and think they are wonderful.  But in terms of useful phrases I can only think of “Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Bedtime,” and “You are going to be okay, I am here, and you are safe.”

I feel like I’m standing too close to a chalkboard with all the answers written on it, and to see them I have to make myself take few steps back.  I figuratively have my feet cemented to the floor.

I've tried to think of what I say to my own boys, and well, the only thing that comes to mind that I ask them often is:  Are you happy? And if they aren’t we talk about it.

So I am throwing this question out there to the world.  If you have (in real life or not) a child who doesn’t speak your language come and live with you, what three phrases would you learn (other than the ones above I’ve mentioned)?