There is a timely post over at Discovering Dad called “Do It Because I Said So!”
Timely, because I find myself guilty of using the “because I said so” to the questions of “Why?”. Oh, I try to explain it, but after about the fifth or sixth why, I fall back on the old standby, maybe it’s because I can’t stand up to my daughter’s superpower, the mind bending power of 4 year old logic.
We have trees in our backyard. Beautiful plum and fig and apple trees. They make for excellent climbing, and she often uses them for these purposes. As I used to climb trees as a kid, I let her indulge herself for about 5 or 6 feet before I start to get the nervous pit in my stomach and then out comes parental mode!
- ME: Don’t climb any higher please <parental concern>
- HER: Why?
- ME: I don’t want you to fall. <describe consequences of actions>
- HER: It’s ok daddy, I won’t fall!
- ME: You might climb too high and the break a branch. <property damage>
- HER: I’ll be careful
- ME: If you fall, you’ll hurt yourself <personal harm to herself>
- HER: I’m not going to fall daddy!
- ME: The tree won’t be able to support you if you go higher <limiting factor>
- HER: I can see really far!
- ME: OK honey, time to come down now. <ending the activity>
- HER: Why?
- ME: Because I said so. <Doh!>
So, looks like I’m off to the library to go check out the book Mike recommends on his site:
How to Work a Room, Revised Edition: Your Essential Guide to Savvy Socializing
by Susan Roane