Who better to offer parental advice on how to handle this cheeky kid comment than Betsy Brown Braun, author of, yes, You’re Not The Boss of Me. Braun, a renowned child development and behavior specialist and mother of (adult)聽triplets, says parents have to lay down the law, without any ambiguity. Here’s Braun’s suggestion of how to respond:
鈥淚 know you don鈥檛 like it when I say, 鈥榊ou have to take a bath. That鈥檚 non-negotiable.鈥� Then you go back and revisit and say, 鈥榊ou know when you said, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not the boss of me?鈥� You know what? You鈥檙e absolutely right. I can鈥檛 control when you eat or poop. But there are some things in this world that you do need to do because everyone has to do them and I am still your mom and still responsible for your well-being and responsible for how you behave in the world.
“When you鈥檙e a grown-up, I will most definitely not be the boss of you. In 10 years, when you can drive your own car and pay your bills, then you don鈥檛 have to listen to a word I say. In 10 years, I have great news for you: you can totally be the complete boss of everything in your life. You can ignore everything I say. As long as you鈥檙e living in this house, you have to follow my rules.鈥�
Check out The essential guide to managing your child’s behavior and discipline. In our guide, you can see all the aspects of children’s behavior that we cover. Our guide helps you understand your child鈥檚 behavior, respond with care, and use discipline effectively.
Here鈥檚 how 4 other parenting experts say to respond…
Bruce Feiler
The Secrets of Happy Families author Bruce Feiler offers this magic bullet to avoid confrontation over this childish quip — a solution that makes everybody happy. Format: Video (1:36)
Christine Carter
The Raising Happiness author and parenting expert says the more you let your kids be the boss, the less you’re likely to hear this complaint. Format: Video (1:01)
Adele Faber
Adele Faber, co-author of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, offers an approach for mutual problem solving, even with young kids.
Format: Article
Gabor Mate
A statement like this, says the best-selling co-author of Hold On to Your Kids, suggests there’s a disconnect between parent and child that needs mending.Format: Article
