Since when does "No" mean "Talk me out of it"?
By reinydawn
@reinydawn (11643)
United States
September 28, 2009 7:42pm CST
Let me start off by going back almost 20 years... When I was raising my children, when I said "No" to something it meant "No - end of conversation." It didn't mean whine for it, or ask me in 10 minutes to see if I changed my mind, or any of that. It meant the answer to your request is no and you have to live with that.
So, my son is 25 years old (and still lives at home), and yesterday he had planned on golfing with his cousin. Well, it rained so they figured they'd play the Tiger Woods golf for the Wii. Unfortunately, the Wii is mine and they wanted to take it to my nephews house to play. My first answer was "No, the Wii does not leave the house. Actually, it doesn't leave the computer room where it's hooked up." I wanted to make sure he knew he wasn't allowed to hook it up in his room, even though we've already told him this. So my son tells me that my nephew was going to actually "rent" it from me, he was going to pay me to let them take it to his house (bachelor apartment in a not-so-good neighborhood). I'm not sure why he thought this was going to change my mind, it had only been like 10 seconds since I said "No". So I told him they're allowed to come over here in the computer room and play if they want. I have no clue what they did, but somehow they found a Wii to play because one was sitting in our living room this morning and is gone now.
So, does "No" mean "No" in your house or does it mean "Ask me again in a minute and I'll tell you yes to shut you up"?
2 people like this
6 responses
@suzzy3 (8342)
•
2 Oct 09
I try to make No No it was easier when the kids were younger but my youngest son who is sixteen waits till I am in a good mood before he askes for anything.I know something is coming as he brings me a cuppa tea in bed in morning and cleans his room,he butters me up ,before I say no to him which he is not expecting ,I get him to do so many jobs for me.I see him coming and make the most of it.Then I say No ,really depends on what it is,he does not ask for much as it is hard work with me.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
19 Oct 09
My boys would do that too. They'd catch me in a good mood, or clean up around the house for me. It's so funny sometimes!
2 people like this
@suzzy3 (8342)
•
19 Oct 09
I can spot my David a mile off,creeping round.Even though I have already made my mind up to say yes I give it a few days,before telling him yes.Oh the pleasure you can get out of them.Most of my jobs for the week can be done by David and he does not have a clue.
@casinocat (284)
• United States
2 Oct 09
I know for a fact that for many parents, "NO" can mean any or all of the following:
1. It's up for debate.
2. Whine a little louder.
3. Ask me later.
4. Ignore me and do whatever you want.
I know this because, although I have no children of my own, I have apparently hired many of the offspring of these no-challenged parents.
Sincerely,
I'm your boss, not your mom.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Oh I know there's a ton of parents out there that have no clue what "No" means! I know when my kids were younger and I was indecisive about something I'd say "We'll see" and after a while my youngest (he was probably 8 at the time) said "That just means no." There were times when "We'll see" turned into "Yes" but I guess that wasn't very often!
1 person likes this
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
29 Sep 09
Hey Reinydawn, didn't know you had a son that old, so he like Golf? Nice to see you here! I just wanted to start your Post. Take care!
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Thanks!!! Yeah, my oldest is going to be 26 in 2 weeks!! EEEKK!!
1 person likes this
@jeanena (2198)
• Bucklin, Kansas
13 Oct 09
I have a 20 year old that still thinks that no means she can cry me out of it . or beg , you know what ever. She was also one that grounding never worked on either. There wasn't a punishment for her that ever worked either.lol
Most of my kids understand No means No. But each are different in their own ways. Hugs Jodi
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
19 Oct 09
Both of my boys had different "punishments" that would work. One was cutting off his social life, the other was cutting of his internet connection!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Nov 09
reinydawn inour house no always meant no but we did not have all the electronic stuff teens now must have so my son was not in to that but into computers and was off to the computer lab at the junior college all the time. but I never really had much issues with him not respecting me when I said no about something. just
the threat of not getting computer time kept him pretty much in line all the tim,e.
the threat of not getting computer time kept him pretty much in line all the tim,e.