The Incredible Machine 1992 'Wonderful World' (Freeform)
My Freeform The Incredible Machine 1992 (Best game ever!) BASIC VERSION: www.youtube.com ------------------------------ ---- The general objective ...
Just Say No
Cookie? Of course! But, a big part of our job as parents is to know when to say when. The kids are the gas and we are the brakes in the never-ending temptation and pleasure cycle that is childhood. We all know those kids that grew up with the reigns a little loose. Most either get slapped pretty hard in the face with adulthood’s shovel or continue to suckle at the parental teat until it becomes bitter and awkward for everyone. In fact, saying no is such a big, prevalent part of being a parent that it also becomes a big, prevalent part of being a toddler.
No is a big word at our house. (Just ask my wife, HEY-OH!) The dog hears it a lot. “Scout, no” was one of the first complex phrases our son managed to put together. Our son hears it often too: when he climbs on the coffee table; when he asks for a cookie 30 minutes before dinner; when he takes a swing at the dog; when he tries, in a very heterosexual way of course, to apply some of my wife’s makeup; and, when he begs for a new toy at the store.
Saying no to toys is the hardest for me personally. I had a ton of toys when I was growing up. My parents hardly ever said no if they could afford to give us something. My brother and I had ALL the GI Joes and Transformers. We had the DC and Marvel super heroes, we had Micro Machines, we had Masters of the Universe, we had Ghostbusters, we even had friggin Care Bears. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t like that brat in “The Toy” or Ricky Schroeder in “Silver Spoons.” My first car was a 1979 Chevy Nova. It cost $500. In 1995. Each of my childhood toys in and of itself cost relatively little, but, looking back, my parents really should have said no more often. They nickel and dimed themselves to death.
My wife had a very different experience growing up. Her parents could afford to provide her with whatever she would have asked for, but were much more judicious in their generosity. She has grown up to be very frugal when it comes to big purchases. Some friends purchased, without a birthday or holiday in sight, a new trampoline for their children.
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