We’d Rather They Think Than Fight Fighting words invite disobedience. When we use them, we draw a line in the sand and dare our kids to cross it. They will fight the limits we impose when we use fighting words. Fighting words include three types of commands: 1. Telling our kids what to do — “You get to work on that lawn right now.” 2. Telling our kids what we will not allow — “You’re not going to talk to me that way!” 3. Telling our kids what we won’t do for them — “I’m not letting you out of this house until you clean the living room.” When we issue such commands we are calling
...more
