No. It’s such a simple word and yet so complicated. The word is easy to understand. If you’re told “no” that means someone feels that whatever verb you’ve suggested should be done, in their mind, shouldn’t. If you say “no”, then you’re suggesting that whatever verb someone else has in mind shouldn’t be done. There, the concept is pretty easy to grasp. Why then does no one seem to embrace this concept in the Austin household.

Just this morning, as I’m fighting to feed Ryan some strawberry-banana mush our beloved Maddie is pulling the garbage can around the kitchen trying to get at last night’s chicken scraps. I command her “no” and she stops, looks at me and assesses my situation and seemingly laughs her canine laugh and continues. So, I quickly get up to grab the dog and turn to see Ryan about to dump the entire jar of mush on his head. I quickly scream “No” but to no avail, plop on his head, chair and the floor. I grab this little food throwing monster and bring him to the kitchen sink only to find my canine friend eating the bananas. I turned to her to say it and then gave up. I don’t think I could’ve taken another rejection. At least I was getting the floor cleaned.