Page 38 - The Intentional Parent

• motivation
Good leaders are also good teachers. They are patient with respect to the number of repetitions it takes people to learn. They also realize that not everyone has the same motivation.
Doing something right doesn’t mean immediate results. Always remember that you are shooting for enough good parenting to get your kids out of the house and self sufficient with enough time left for you to be able to have your own life while all your parts are still in tact. And, on top of that, giving your kids enough love to make them want to take care of you when your some of your parts stop working.
Here are some actions that you can pair with the intention of “making no mean no.” Making “no” stick is part of a three step process:
Step One: “The Listen”
When working with stubborn, oppositional behavior, less is more. Let your child express what she needs to express, then say,
“I’ve listened to you. I can’t give you what you want,” or “I’ve listened to you. I can’t do that,” or
“I’ve listened to you. I can’t make that happen,” or “I’ve listened and I can’t give you permission for that.”
The Intentional Parent by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. 38