This week brought the end of a long, hard fought election campaign.   I, like most of you, was glued to the screen, following the ups and downs of each reported return.   The new media was hopping at our house Tuesday night.  We had TVs, computers and cell phones all spouting returns at the same time. 

When all was decided, I heard a theme, cited by both President-elect Obama and Senator McCain, and echoed on the newscasts.  Our economy is a mess and hard times lurk right around the corner.   The only way out of this situation is for the American people to pull together, make the hard choices and do the hard work it’s going to take.  It amazed me as this theme was echoed by commentator after commentator on the various networks we watched.  The conversation about our national purpose is changing.

I began to wonder if a speech writer hadn’t been involved in one of our Say Yes To No campaigns.   What was really being called for was self-discipline.    The character trait our kids need if they are going to be successful in school and in life.   Self-discipline enables a child to finish a task, put in the hard work needed for practicing a skill, choose work when needed over play, set and accomplish a goal, work independently, work with a group, and enjoy a reward well-earned.  Self-discipline ensures that a child’s self-esteem is built on real accomplishments and the satisfaction of a job well done.   Parents and teachers have been joining Say Yes to No book reads and conversation groups, learning how No gives their kids the gift of self discipline.

Do you have a Say Yes to No story to share?

Dr. Dave