Everyone has a story about embarrassing supermarket melt
downs. Here’s a tip from a mom in Duluth about what to say
when it happens.
In the grocery store check out line recently this mom’s
daughter started to fuss – big time. She
wanted something and was loudly demanding it with tears and sobs. The mom told her, “no” – she could not have
the item, they were not going to buy anything today. Her daughter just screamed louder.
A woman behind them in line leaned over and said, “Oh, why
don’t you get it for her.” This mom
looked at her and said, “Do you want to raise her?”
This Duluth
mom knew the important lessons of No. She knew that if she gave in to her child,
when she knows she shouldn’t, that her daughter will just up the ante – next
time. It might seem like a small item –
maybe a candy bar – but children need practice with hearing “no” for small
things. And parents need practice saying
it.
The big issues will come eventually – they always do. If we haven’t built up our No skills, then it will be too hard to
hold the line when the stakes are really high.
And our kids will know that “No doesn’t really mean ‘no’.” It just means you argue louder.
