Last night, feeling a bit punchy after a long day I tweeted Sometimes it’s just easier to say yes, you can have a lollipop, than to come up with a reason why not.

It’s true. Not because I don’t know how to say no. (See also: The stale Halloween candy that turn into goo in our pantry every year until we finally toss it the following October.) But because sometimes there is not a particularly good reason to say no to your kids.

I say no as a knee-jerk reaction a lot. I’m trying to learn to say yes more to harmless requests that make my kids happy. Thalia wants grated cinnamon on her pasta? Sure. Sage wants to skip all the way to the subway station? Eh, why not.

While mostly Twitter friends last night  laughed or agreed or whatever it is people do on Twitter when we’re feeling generally good (or honest) about ourselves, there were a few more surprising reactions. These included calling out my parenting skills and ability to make sensible decisions for my children with the implication that “I owe them better.”

Better than lollipops. Continue reading →