Just Say No to Kids

My two children are wonderful, terrific, incredibly smart, creative, individuals. With that said, but at times,(okay every day), they drive me crazy. They ask the same question over and over until they get the answer they want to hear, they don't say, please, thank you, or Okay, Mom.

I'm really beginning to think I'm the only Mom out there who says "No", to my kids. They are always telling me what their friends have, and that they get to stay up late. They tell me how their friend's parents and grandparents are always taking their kids places we can't afford to go to.

It sounds to me like all of these parents according to my precious darlings, only do what their kids want to do, hinge on their every word, and give them whatever they want. I am told on a daily basis that because I said the horrible word---No, that I am mean, cruel, rotten, I'm not fair, I'm not fun, a real meanie, and I'm a throwback, stuck in another era, old, I've been called by one of my sixteen year old's friend ----"the house of Ozzie and Harriet."

All because I'm still married after 20 years , I try to keep the house clean, and I do something I don't think any other parents do anymore---I just say No. Just like Nancy Reagan told America in the 80's, "Just say No to Drugs." I just say No to my kids. It's a word I say all the time. It's a great word this No, but I don't think any body but me is saying it.

Why? Well, according to my children everybody else can do what ever they want, whenever they want. I tell my kids to clean up their rooms, I give them chores to do, and I try my best to raise them so they will be self-sufficient adults. That's why I just say, No. No you can't go out and play with your friends in the dark alone in the middle of the street.

I want my kids to to be ready to work hard, and get a great job. I don't want them living with me unitl they're 30, and I'm still supporting them. There won't be enough room in my house in Australia. I'm not sorry, that I won't let them live on candy, pop-tarts, and soda-pop. I'm not apologizing for not letting them stay up all night, have boy-girls sleep overs, and that I won't let them watch TV 24-7.

Just remember Moms, just say No, and you won't have any problems.