Here is a story of a mom in my class who learned a new skill to not engage in a battle with kids when they’re protesting a limit.
That skill is called going “brain dead.”
This works with kids of all ages. See what happens when she uses it to neutralize the “buy it for me” battle.
“My 9 year old daughter and I were at Walmart In the middle of the afternoon rush when she asked for a bouncy ball (regression anyone?) I said “no.” She protested, fussed and whined. I got to whip out my “brain dead” phrase for the first time, “Love you too much to argue.”
She looked at me with an expression of shock and confusion. He then asked me incredulously, “Does that mean no?”
The element of surprise using a new phrase was great! She accepted the “No” without further protest and we moved on. I had to laugh to myself when in the car driving home she said, “Mom, don’t say that again.”
