Parenting often feels like battling a wall of stubbornness, and nothing illustrates this better than little kids who, after a whole day packed with activities, coldly and simply answer – NO. Samantha Afran, mom to 21-month-old Ezra, experienced this firsthand when she took her son to a children’s museum, and when asked if he had fun, he replied with just one word: no. The video quickly went viral because many parents recognized themselves in the same situation – kids refusing to cooperate and constantly saying no, despite all the effort and planning parents put in.
But why does this happen? Experts say it’s a completely normal developmental phase. Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a family physician and expert in psychological resilience, explains that little kids don’t have the same perception of time as adults. They don’t look back or evaluate past events like we do; they live in the moment, almost like little zen beings. So if you ask them if they had fun, and they are tired, hungry, or cranky at that moment, their answer will be no – not because they didn’t enjoy it, but because that’s how they feel right then.
Two-year-olds don’t yet know how to connect emotions from past events with their current state, so their answers don’t necessarily reflect their true impressions of the events. Psychologist Reem Raouda advises parents to use phrases that encourage dialogue and clearly show who’s in charge, while acknowledging the child’s feelings, instead of authoritarian “because I said so.” When a child feels understood, they calm down faster and trust their parent more.
So next time your little stubborn one says no, remember it’s not a provocation but their way of expressing current feelings and desire for control. Parenting isn’t just about getting a yes, it’s the skill of handling the no. And if you manage to keep a little humor along the way, you’re already halfway to success. Now, have you had similar moments with your little ones? Or maybe you have a hilarious comeback to their no? Share in the comments so we can all laugh and support each other in this wonderful, yet sometimes exhausting adventure called parenting!
