05/28/2026
OK parents, here’s a quick math equation we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way):
Little kid = little kid problems
Big kid = big kid problems
Example: you’re in the grocery store and your toddler is melting down - he wants that ridiculously unhealthy cookie, you’ve said NO, and he’s amping up the drama. You’re sweating, panicking…people are staring (judging, no doubt?!?)…and it’s suddenly become an ugly stand-off.
Wonderful. You do NOT have time for this.
Now what?😩 Do you give in or hold the line…even if it means leaving your cart and carrying him out of the store in full tantrum mode? What will it hurt if you give in just this once? What will it cost if you don’t? How long will he scream? How many glares can you withstand??
Every parenting power struggle calls for discernment. A strategy. Big-picture thinking. But who are we kidding? We’re just trying to survive here, people! 🤦♀️
Trust us, we’ve been there. And we know the pain, the stress, the guilt…the fear of judgment from others, even your own friends & family. None of it is easy.
We also know that old adage “short-term pain, long-term gain” has stuck around for a reason. It’s one thing to scoop an angry toddler out of a grocery cart and quite another to cajole a recalcitrant teenager into making curfew.
The math is important here. Because little kid problems left unchecked become big kid issues that are MUCH more challenging.
Teach your kids to tolerate the word “no” and help them tolerate it in the safety of their own family. So they learn to regulate their emotions and soothe themselves with your loving support and guidance. Best gift you can give them, we promise 🩷🎀🩷
That jerk in the airport line making a scene at the ticket counter? Most likely he used to be a kid who wasn’t taught to tolerate “the no”.
Poor guy. The math never lies.
Need help setting boundaries or teaching your kiddos to tolerate the no? We’re here to help! Reach out at the link in our bio. You are NOT alone!
