No More Nagging

Today I’m thrilled to feature a blog post by fellow Speaker Chick, Arlene Pellicane!

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I shared a story recently at a MOPS group and by the number of nodding heads in the room, I knew this was familiar ground for mothers: Nagging.

When my daughter Noelle was 3, we had come home from a birthday party. I was working on my computer when Noelle approached me, holding the party “GOO-DEE” bag as she dramatically called it.

“Mom, can I please have a piece of candy from the GOO-DEE bag?”

“No, you already had cake and candy at the party. You may not.”

A few minutes later, she returned. “Can I just hold a piece of candy from the GOO-DEE bag? Can I just look at the pieces of candy? Can I count the pieces of candy?”

After several interruptions about the GOO-DEE bag, I caved in. “YES! You can have candy out of the GOO-DEE bag if you will just leave me alone!”

Noelle, 1. Mom, 0.

In hindsight, what I should have said was, “If you ask again about the GOO-DEE bag, the GOO-DEE bag is going in the trash.” That would have ended the nagging in one way or another!

Nowadays when my kids nag for something, the answer is easy. “Nope, sorry we can’t do that. We don’t respond to nagging. Try again next time!”

When our children learn it’s counterproductive to nag, they eventually give up. And that’s a reason to celebrate and break open the GOO-DEE bag!

What to do when your child nags?

About the Author

Arlene Pellicane is the author of 31 Days to a Younger You: No Surgery, No Diets, No Kidding. She has appeared on The 700 Club, Hour of Power, Better, Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah, and TLC’s Home Made Simple. Arlene lives in San Diego with her husband James and three children.