While we say it with relative ease in most areas of our lives – “No, we don’t have a position available at this time,” “No, this is not a good time for me to talk,” and “No, I don’t want to go to the gym,” – when it comes to our kids, the word just doesn’t roll off the tongue with as much ease.
Untitled Document
Paula Spencer, the author of “Momfidence: An Oreo Never Killed Anyone and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting” (Three Rivers, 2006), says learning to say the two-letter word with gusto is easier than you might think.
First and foremost, Spencer, the arbiter of parenting with boundaries, says that kids aren’t hearing enough of the two-letter words these days. “I’m from the school of thought that kids should hear no more than they do.”
Here are her cardinal rules for dispensing no with ease.
Avoid OK
Spencer advises not to qualify your denial with an OK.
“Don’t say to your kid, ‘You can’t have that cookie, OK?’ It softens the no,” Spencer says.
NEW DADS 
