We are all sales people. We started when we were kids.

Babies cry when they ask for milk. Kids who want a piece of candy or chocolate won’t stop until they get what they want.

Gabbie: Daddy, can I have this chocolate.

Me: No, it’s late. You have to sleep.

Gabbie: Daddy, can I open this chocolate?

Me: No!

Gabbie: Daddy, can I lick this chocolate?

Me: I said No!

Gabbie: Daddy, can I bite this chocolate?

Me: » Heavy sigh »

Gabbie: Thanks Daddy! I love you =)

Gabbie in her Cinderella dress

Alexa in her Snow White dress

I remember when I was 8 years old; I wanted a He-Man action figure so bad that when my dad didn’t buy it, I started banging my head on a wall. Of course, I looked for a spot on the wall that is soft enough so my head won’t hurt after I bang it.

Parents usually disregard their child’s pleas when they are asking for something because the parents need to do something else or their minds are fluttering elsewhere. But this is actually a good time to train our kids to reason. It’s also a good time to explain why they don’t always get what they want.

My Little Mermaids

The next time your child calls upon your attention, rather than telling them to knock it off, ask your child to give you, at the most, three good reasons why you should give his/her request. When you see those eyes glance upward and sideways…smile! You are training them to learn how to reason and think.