Parent: Not this time.
Kid: Come on please!
Parent: No, we've already spent enough money.
Kid: But Suzie's mom bought it for her.
Parent: Well, I'm not Suzie's mom.
Kid: Hmph, no fair!"
Sound familiar? Perhaps a little too familiar? If you're a parent, you've inevitably found yourself starring in this little one-act play a thousand times. And yet, no matter how many times you've rehearsed your lines, it doesn't get any easier to fill your role. Being the parent who says no is never easy.
To your little co-star, there is absolutely no justifiable reason for you to say no. It's just mean, and completely unfair.
As a parent you know this is not the case. You have a budget to stick to, and even though you may wish you could honor your child's every request, it's just not possible. Sometimes you just have to say no.
In fact, it's even important to say no sometimes. Otherwise kids will grow up thinking that they should get everything they want; and life simply doesn't work that way for most people.
So, what can you do to put an end to all of the drama?
Well, if you're like a lot of parents, you may think it is best to simply avoid the areas of the store that prove the most tempting. This would mean avoiding check-out lines with candy, and steering clear of the toy department.
In theory, this approach sounds great, but nevertheless it is a plan destined for failure. Keep your child away from the candy and toys and he or she will simply find something else to covet.
It's how kids operate. Plain and simple.
That's why you need a different approach-- one that is guaranteed to put an end to the drama once and for all. And it all starts with changing how you respond to your child's request.
By now your child knows exactly how you are going to respond to his or her request. And your child is probably just as tired of hearing it as you are of saying it.
So don't tell your child no for the millionth time. This time say, "Okay."
Now I know this sounds like giving in; however, this is where we add a twist to the plot--one that will fix the problem, and save your wallet.
Strange as it may seem, you are going to say okay. However, you are going to add one more word to your response, and this one word is a real show stopper.
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