When Parents and Grandparents Refuse to use the "no" word!

"No!"
"No!"
"No!!!!!!"  - what's wrong with telling a child or grandchild that "no" word???

We had some visitors recently who brought their 3 grand-daughters....firstly, the hyperactivity amongst them made it seem as if some 20 children had descended upon us.  There is a book by author Maurice Sendak "Where the Wild Things Are" - and trust me, on that particular day....the wild things were in our home.

These grandparents have NEVER told their grandkids "no".  So, while we were showing the grandparents the rest of the house - the grandkids were (according to our daughter and I heard loud screams, giggling and laughter below, so I believe her) were trying to break the arms off two antique chairs, were JUMPING up and down (shoes and all, and we do not wear shoes in our house) on two other pieces of furniture.  One was busily trying to open/shut/open/shut a box on the table to see if she could break the top off.  Another was pulling the roman shade up/down/up/down, another put her lollipop in the drawer of a 200-year old chest.

Our daughter is really great with younger kids and usually can calm kids within minutes but these "Wild Things" stuck out their tongues at her every time she said "No, don't do that".

NO is not such a bad word!!!  For one thing - kids can get HURT if they are not told "No!" now and again.  Secondly - they won't be welcomed at many houses.  The "no" word  does not HURT the child emotionally, physically or in any way to make them dysfunctional for the rest of their lives.  No is as good a word as yes.

Probably, parents today don't want to say the "no" word because they want their children to regard them as their buddies.   But being their BUDDIES isn't a parent's or grandparent's job - your job is to guide them on their way to the REAL world and there will be plenty of "no's" as they grow in life.

Don't be afraid to tell your child or grandchild "no!".