Bad news or good news

I never know what to think when someone gives me the choice of bad news or good news first... so I tortured my husband, Andy, and let him mull over which he would rather to start. 
A:  Bad first
Me:  Scotty has informed me that he would like to be called Scott. 
Then I gave him the good news... friends of ours are sick.  (How is that good news???)  He didn't have to worry about nursery on Relief Society night at the church.  I know a bit twisted in my mind I know.  The boy is growing up that IS good news and friends sick is bad news.

How do you deal with the flying years?  And how do you cope with bad news?  Well for me, getting the two mixed up today helped me put things back in perspective.