Your ten-year-old boy, Dominic, comes home from his kindergarten class. He’s been talking about his new friend Katie, and you have been thinking about setting up a playdate for the lovebirds. But, Dominic tells you about the red dress Katie was wearing today, and how it wants one just like it. What do you tell him? “Of course, honey!” or “how about a red shirt instead?”
The answer, to any well-trained mother, that is, is B. But, let’s say you chose A instead. “One dress won’t kill him, right?” Oh yes, one dress does no harm, but one dress leads to two braids, and two braids leads to three dolls, and three dolls lead to a foreclosure on your beautiful white-picket home and a rental at the roach-infested motel next to the state mental institution. …show more content…
But, this is the molding for the person they’ll be for the rest of their life. And really, aren’t the two simple seconds of toddler wailing better than the years of humiliation put upon your family because you couldn’t say no? They’ll get over it - within a minute, he’ll be begging for the new dump-trump, or she’ll be whining about the latest American Girl Doll.
Ah yes, but then the teen years come. We all remember those days, right? Sneaking out at night to go to a concert with our girlfriends, singing along with our favorite songs. Teens are always trying to find an edgier way to rebel - but now, with a different type of “girlfriend.”
Let’s say your teenage daughter, Madison, is a junior in high school, and her prom is coming up. She tells you that she has a date already, and you’re overjoyed! You can’t wait to hear all about this mysterious boy who asked her! You ask for his name, and she tells you that her date’s name is Valerie. After a bit of confusion, Madison clarifies the Valerie is both a girl and not just a friend. What do you do? Move the conversation to potential dresses, or ask more about
The answer, to any well-trained mother, that is, is B. But, let’s say you chose A instead. “One dress won’t kill him, right?” Oh yes, one dress does no harm, but one dress leads to two braids, and two braids leads to three dolls, and three dolls lead to a foreclosure on your beautiful white-picket home and a rental at the roach-infested motel next to the state mental institution. …show more content…
But, this is the molding for the person they’ll be for the rest of their life. And really, aren’t the two simple seconds of toddler wailing better than the years of humiliation put upon your family because you couldn’t say no? They’ll get over it - within a minute, he’ll be begging for the new dump-trump, or she’ll be whining about the latest American Girl Doll.
Ah yes, but then the teen years come. We all remember those days, right? Sneaking out at night to go to a concert with our girlfriends, singing along with our favorite songs. Teens are always trying to find an edgier way to rebel - but now, with a different type of “girlfriend.”
Let’s say your teenage daughter, Madison, is a junior in high school, and her prom is coming up. She tells you that she has a date already, and you’re overjoyed! You can’t wait to hear all about this mysterious boy who asked her! You ask for his name, and she tells you that her date’s name is Valerie. After a bit of confusion, Madison clarifies the Valerie is both a girl and not just a friend. What do you do? Move the conversation to potential dresses, or ask more about