NO!

I belong to a community called BabyCenter, or BBC for those in the know. Today while reading threads I was stunned by the number of people who can't say NO. I will admit I'm among them. What is one of the first words your child learns? "No"...do you want juice? No. Do you want to go to bed? No. Etc. It's one of the first words out of our mouths as a child and one of the last words out of some of our mouths as adults. Why is that? Are we just people pleasers who are afraid of the reaction we'll get? I think that it's likely the case with many of us.

So, what are we going to do about it? I'll tell you what, we're going to practice saying no. Hey can you do A, B and C for me? NO! I have a full plate already and you can take the trash out yourself damn it! Mommy can I have a cookie? No you can't. Turn away and ignore the sulky face.

I've decided that I need to be more firm about it. When I wasn't properly medicated and I was just so tired of everything I gave in, a lot. I know it. So I'm going to learn that simple two letter word again.