No, No, No

I feel like I tell my little boys “no” all the time. I hate that. I don’t want to be constantly denying them things and actions.

“Good Parenting” guides say a parent should redirect or tell the child what they can do instead of saying “no.” I try to do that, but after a while, it gets tiring and difficult.

Standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, CalfgritX says, “Can I have this candy?”

Catching myself from just saying, “No,” I think and instead say, “How about we get it, but you can eat some of it for dessert after dinner.”

“But I want the pudding we have in the ‘fridgerator for dessert.”

“Your choice. Which would you rather have?”

“This candy, now,” he says, sweetly.

I fall back on the old, “No.”

And there are times when the boys desires or actions come rapid fire such that anything longer than one syllable just won’t work.

Boy takes toy away from other boy: “No.”

Other boy pushes boy for taking the toy: “No.”

Boy hits other boy for pushing him: “No.”

Other boy kicks boy for hitting him: “No.”

Boy snaps whip on other boy: “No!”

Other boy swings big stick on boy: “No!”

Boy pulls switchblade knife on other boy: “NO!”

Other boy brandishes butcher knife on boy: “NO!”

Boy draws pistol on other boy: “NO!”

Other boy aims machine gun at boy: “NO!”

Boy calls in cruise missile strike on other boy: “NO!”

Other boy presses big red button for nuclear detonation on boy: “NO!”
“DO NOT MAKE ME GET UP FROM THIS HAMMOCK AND PUT YOU BOTH IN TIME OUT!”

I mean, sometimes I don’t even get to take a breath between “no”s.

Bullgrit