Man, the kids know how to wear me down. I have permitted far too many pretzel sticks than I'd like to admit. (Why the hell do we have pretzel sticks, anyway? This article in a newspaper I've never heard of discusses the different types of child manipulation, and "badgering" is one that both my kids have mastered.What's insane is that no matter how many times I badger them, they fail to comply. The first five times I say, "Put your shoes on," they don't even hear me. Then during the next five requests, they hear it, but wonder, "What's that sound buzzing in my ears while The Fairly Oddparents is on?"
By the 20th time I've requested that they put their frigging shoes on, I'd forgotten why they needed to put their shoes on in the first place.
But apparently, it's my own nagging that causes the kids to engage in this badgering behavior, and worse:
If the parent gives in after the 28th time they are asked, the next time the child will likely ask at least 28 times.
In other words, I'm screwed. Here's some easier-said-than-done advice:
It helps to quell the nagging, but the most important way to stop badgering is not to give in. It also helps to call out a badgering child by saying, "Stop repeating."
I can say with much confidence that the one word I've never be able to use in terms of my kids is "quell." Read more...
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