Say "Yes" to your children

Say “Yes” to your children. How often do you find yourself saying “no” to your children? “a lot” you say. Could it be that all these “Nos’ are making life tougher on the kid/s? Do they respond to “no” in a happy way? Probably not. If you want your kids to be positive about all sorts of things from homework to chores & rules, then try saying yes to their requests more often. Ask yourself “why do I say No, so often?” Is it that you’re afraid of losing control, or just cant be bothered with your part in it if you say “yes”? There are many ways of saying “yes” whilst still maintaining control & not having to be fully involved. The answer is to  put the onus back on the child, eg: Q. Can Billy have a sleep over tonight? A. Yes that should be alright  as long as you stick with the rules we made last time. You’ll need to ask his parents & ask them to get his sleeping bag & things he’ll need together. If they complain about this, you can stress that you have said “yes” but they need to make it happen? If they cant cope with the rules or the organisation involved ask them what they can do to help. Or offer something similar that is within their reach. If you still feel you cant say “yes” then you need to ask yourself “why?”  Saying yes can be a real opportunity for children to grow & accept extra responsibilities & test their existing capabilities. It will also put you in a positive  position in your relationship. Think of all the other things you say “No” to & see if there are ways to turn that into a” yes”. You’ll be surprised how quickly things will improve in your household both for you as the parent & for your children’s self esteem.