Do you ever find yourself saying something that is just too close to what might have come out of your own parent’s mouth? I know, we have all been there, right? For me, it is “Just because I said so!”
I find myself uttering this line far too many times lately in response to the whys whenever I ask my children to complete a task or accept something that they deem is unfair. I’ve tried the endless explanations, but they don’t always get me anywhere. Recently, I started applying a different strategy that I learned from my oldest son. Now I have a new favorite parenting line, and so far it seems to be working beautifully, with no complaints from anyone.
What is this miracle line? It is used in many classrooms all over the country: “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.” To my ears it sounds a little harsh, but to kids ears it seems to sound fair. It is a rule with no negotiation, so there is no room for complaint. Plus, I think the kids know that even if they get the (perceived) short end of the stick this time, then the rule will hold up for them next time when they get the red M&M, the extra pretzel on the plate or the Meet the Robertsons cup.
In fact, the line seems to work so wonderfully that it is perpetuating itself. Just the other day, I heard my four-year-old tell my eight-year-old this very same line when he was whining about only getting one desert.
And while I know that there will come a day, probably very soon, when this rule is broken, for now I will take advantage of its magical ability to create a sense of peace and calm in my household.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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