| I saw an interaction between a parent and her child in | | | | "No" should be considered a sacred word. It should be |
| a department store. The child asked for candy. Mom | | | | a word that stands alone and cancels any further talk |
| said no. The child asked more loudly with a whine. | | | | or action."No" needs no further explanation or |
| Mom said", I said no, now hush." | | | | clarification. |
| The child began wailing. Mom tried to ignore it. Mom | | | | One of the most valuable skills you can learn as a |
| began to notice the disturbed looks from the other | | | | parent is how to say no and mean it. Learn to draw |
| customers. To prevent being embarrassed further by | | | | the line and maintain it. Do not give in. Children can be |
| the child's display, the mom gave the child the candy. | | | | quite cagey in their attempts to change your mind. If |
| No did not mean "no"...it merely means it is time to kick | | | | they succeed once, you have given a new definition to |
| in the tantrum technique. | | | | the word"no". It is no longer sacred. |
| Children grow up and become adults. Because they | | | | It is not always pleasant to refuse your child something, |
| have never learned the meaning of "no", they have no | | | | but when you have passed beyond the point of letting |
| boundaries. They do what they want without regard to | | | | the child make a decision, and have used the word no, |
| rules and laws. Prisons are full of grown children who | | | | then let "no" mean "No". |
| never learned the meaning of "no". | | | | |