No Means No!

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NoNo! We say it a million times a day and it is one of the most exhausting words in a moms vocabulary. Often times I am guilty of switching my response to a more popular 3-letter word:Yes! It saves time, energy and usually prevents a tantrum that nobody wants to deal with. In the new year I promised myself that I would be firm, and stick to my guns. No means No! Negotiating with 2 children under 5 is never a smart move!

As moms, we want to give our children everything and let them do anything, but that is just not realistic nor is it a healthy parenting tactic. We have to teach them lessons about things like responsibility, empathy, independence and consequences. Sometimes saying no is the best way to get the point across. No, you can’t eat candy for breakfast, it is not good for your teeth! No, you can’t get another toy, some kids don’t even have toys to play with! No, you can’t play outside, you have been mean to your sister all day!

I will admit, I am a “Yes” person otherwise known as a people pleaser. It is hard for me to say no, and it was certainly no surprise to me that it would be a challenge to say no to my own children. I want them to be happy along with everyone else in my life (and in the world! Haha!). I know that saying no doesn’t make me a bad mom. I just need to try a different approach. Yelling like a lunatic, shaking my head, pointing my finger and even telling them in a friendly storybook character tone were not effective.

After talking many times with my mom about my struggle, she handed me a small box one afternoon. My mom always has a special way to cheer me up. Even though I knew the bottle of wine that I so desperately needed was not in that little box, I was excited to see what was inside!

It was a little gem called The No! Button (By Zany Toys LLC). Where had this been all my life? And better yet, why hadn’t I been the tired and crazy parent who invented it? This would definitely help my quest to say no a bit differently. You know I always joke that I would like to clean our house by the push of a button, now I can say No that way! Now could someone please work on the “Cleaning the house button”??

10 different No’s with the press of a button, this surely has to help with the demands and requests of my children and husband! Turns out that this nifty little button can be used in almost any situation! Score!

Are we there yet?
Can I get a goldfish?
Can you help with the school fundraiser?
Do these pants make my but look big?
Have I had too much wine?
Do you want to have sex tonight?

Even if the push of The No! Button doesn’t offer you a solution to the crazy requests that life often throws at us, it is sure to give you a laugh in the mean time. Just say no, it is good for moms (and laughing is too!).

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Allison Farley
I'm a small-town girl, born & raised in Ohio. I've lived in Cincinnati since 2003, and am grateful for all of my adventures in this wonderful city! My husband Mike & I have two daughters, Audrey and Josephine. I have been a SAHM since our first daughter was born, which means most of my days are filled with story-reading, adventure-planning and playing dress-up. I love event planning, fashion and make up. Coffee & Reese's Cups are among my favorites as well! One of my sought after hobbies is finding time for "Me Time" (by myself that is)....we all do that right? I look forward to sharing the joys of motherhood with all of you!

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