He said…She said
“Mom, can I please watch a movie?”
“Yes you can, we are getting ready to eat and after dinner you can watch the movie.”
“I want to watch it now.”
“I will turn it on as soon as we finish eating.”
“Dad, can I please watch a movie?”
“Sure, let me turn it on for you.”
This is a similar conversation a lot of us have with our children. Our children do not get the answer they want from one of us and they move on to the next adult in the room. Our children are not being mean, disobedient or even manipulative, they just want to get what they want.
It is a TIME to teach.
My daughter shared a similar story and her response is one that stated so clearly and simply, that I had to share.
When my daughter heard that dad had started the movie, rather than getting upset with their child (or even the dad), she simply stated, “When daddy hears that I have said no, his answer will change to no.”
Have a teaching moment. The earlier in the child’s age, the better. Make sure that is the case for all you do with your children. As they get older, the simple answer may turn to, let me talk with your (other parent) and get back to you.
Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-blank-notebook-733857/
Be on the same page as parents. Back each other up. It isn’t always easy, yet so important. We might not always see the reasoning behind the first parent's answer, yet that doesn’t matter in the long run. That can be a conversation for later to improve your own relationship. With your children, keep it simple and stand together.
