Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Just Say No, I DARE you.

As I listened to my daughter's 5th grade class sing the DARE song at last's week's program graduation, I thought back to the Just Say No programs that I recall in school.  Did we have a nifty song too?  I don't remember. 

We're all familiar with the purpose and value of teaching kids how to stand up to peer pressure, value themselves and make good choices.  But, now that we're all grown up, how do we moms rate? 

Do you succumb to peer pressure?  Feel yourself saying "Yes" to commitments, activities even if you'd rather not? 

Yes, of course, let's have all the in-laws at our house. 
Sure!  I'll bake the cupcakes! 
Absolutely, count me in to help with the....

Maybe Just Say No should have a mommy curriculum.  After all, if you just say no to one commitment, what might you be saying yes to?  Yes to time to relax.  Yes to setting boundaries.  Yes to...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Amen. I recently mentored a new mom who was overwhelmed by the expectations of family and friends following her child's birth. At an especially difficult time, her in-laws wanted to take my her husband and her out to a very expensive/non-kid friendly restaurant and take her newborn along. When she finally had the courage to Just Say No (we did a lot of role playing), her entire experience of being overwhelmed and anxious all the time began to turn around! That first "no" was the turning point of establishing a new set of boundaries and expectations for her nuclear family.