aww, mama, do i hafta?

Little five year old Jasmine is building a tower with blocks scattered around her bedroom floor. Mom is cleaning up in the kitchen, pauses, and notices the quiet. She puts her dish towel down and makes her way down the hall to Jazz’s bedroom.
          “Hey, Pooh Bear, Whatcha doing?” she inquires. Her daughter gently places another block atop her growing tower.
          “See how big my tower’s getting?” Jazz gleamed with pride.
          “Uh huh,” mom demurred.
          “I’m gonna build it to the sky.”
          Mom paused, deciding how to handle the situation. “Sweetheart, I thought I told you to get all your stuffed toys and blocks off the floor before getting to bed. We don’t want you stumping your toe when you get up tomorrow morning.”
          “Yeah, but, this is waaay better, don’tcha think? I’m taking the blocks from the floor and building a tower.”
          “Okay,” mom scooped Jasmine up and gathered her daughter into her arms. “Time to clean and straighten up and then get to bed.”
          “Aww, Mama. Do I hafta?”
          As parents, how many times have we heard those soulful words from our kids?  This is an everyday household experience that defines your healthy parenting, based on the choices you make.
          Some parents respond with “Yes, young lady, you hafta. And I mean right now.”  This would be a power-laden, authoritative response that reinforces your ascribed parental control. You’re the parent. You’re the boss. Your child must do what you say…NOW!
          Other parents respond with “Well, maybe a few more minutes. Finish your tower while I pick up your other toys in the room.” This would be a permissive, let’s-all-go-along-to-get-along. Avoid conflict or you might scar your child for life.
          Between authoritative and permissive is the healthier parental response. The authoritarian parenting style focus on your earned authority with your child, because you make effort to understand her needs and feelings, while making decisions that are in her best interests. This is a relationship-building parenting model.
          First, start with active listening Jasmine’s feelings. “Wow. Look at you! You’re so proud of your tower. I know it’s hard for you to put it up for now and get ready for bed.”
          “It’s the bestest tower ever.”
          “You know, you are right,” Mama scoops up her baby girl to put her in bed. “Let’s keep it where it is so you can continue building it after you get up tomorrow. Time for bed.”
          “Aww, Mama, do I hafta?”
          “Yes. You hafta.” Time for bed, Pooh Bear.” And the bedtime routine begins without further fussing.
          You are always the boss. What you say goes. It’s how you say it that determines whether you are feared or loved by your kids. Use active listening, delegation, cooperation and firm boundaries to build healthy family relationships.

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