It’s Okay to Say “No”
When I was a kid and even now, I have trouble saying “no” to people. We get satisfaction coming through for family and friends, but when is too much. Over-stretching can leave us stressed and give us an anxiety that we can’t complete all of our tasks. The same thing happens to kids all over the world. Saying “no” to people is really hard and can make you feel uncomfortable, but sometimes it’s vital to keep your stress and well being in check. Let your kids know it’s acceptable to tell people “no” for that same exact reason. Kids have trouble processing their emotions and can easily get overwhelmed if they are stressed.
Using “no” in the household can have lasting benefits. You can use it if they are asking for something and give them a reason why. They will pick up on this and begin to learn why someone would say “no” to a request. Also, don’t give your child everything they want. Saying “no” here will set them up for life in the long run. They won’t think everything is supposed to be handed to them and forge their own path. Finally, teaching them to say “no” can help them learn to assess if they want to do something or not. They will be more inclined to go after what they really want and cut out the rest. Wanting to help everyone out is a noble goal, but unfortunately it’s unsustainable. Learn to say “no” and teach your kids as well so all of you can benefit greatly from it with free time and living with less stress.
