How do you handle it when your child says they hate you?

[Hekate]

Because ds1, aged 8, has just yelled down the stairs "I hate you Mum".

And I yelled back up, "Do you? Oh dear, that makes me sad, get back into bed now, night night."

And came right back to Mumsnet.

But now I'm wondering if I should have done something different.

He's started saying "you hate me" when he doesn't get his own way, to which I reply "I love you." but this is the first (of many I suspect) proper screamed and shouted declaration of his hate for mean old me.

So what do you all do?

Dd(6) says this all the time, along with other nasty things.
And she shakes her fist at me.
So I shake my fist back at her from the safety of the kitchen where I spend most of my time lurking in order to avoid offending her.
Truly, the 'Really? But I love you' and changing the subject is the best response.