To your kids you say: “You can’t do that today.” Their reaction: “You’re so mean!” And off they storm. Your instinct may be to follow them. “I’m not being mean. I’m saying, no, because…” You explain. They argue. You explain again. They have another comeback. Suddenly, the conversation is no longer about what you said no to. It’s about whether you’re mean. And now you’re arguing about the argument. What if you just let them have the last word? Not because they’re right. Not be

You explain. You say, “I’m not discussing this anymore.” You say “No” five times. And still, your child argues with your decision. So you explain some more. You remind them why you said no. You tell them again that you’re not discussing it. You answer another “But why?” ou think you are taking charge and being decisive. But your children may be hearing something very different: They hear, “This is still up for decision.” Why does this keep happening? It’s a question I hear a

I was reminded of this while booking an airline ticket. I'd found the perfect flight at a price that fit my budget. Halfway through booking, an error message appeared: That fare is no longer available. If I wanted the exact same seat on the exact same flight, I'd have to pay significantly more. My heart started pounding. I started sweating. The voice in my head screamed, "That's it. I'm never traveling again." Nothing dangerous had happened. Yet my body reacted as though it h