For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 06, 2013

Just couldn’t take “you’re too big” for an answer. (I bet by the time John lets go, Lizzie’ll make the cart tip over.)

I rode in the grocery cart kiddy seats until I was quite a bit bigger than Lizzie is……

My daughters have learned that the more they beg, the stronger the “No” becomes. They may be stubborn…but I’m stubborner!

Caving in is why she begs. She knows you say yes eventually. No caving = less begging and whining!

Yup! keeps ’em out of the aisles, out from under my feet.

Don’t worry, John. Your turn to publicly humiliate her will come in about ten years when just the thought of being seen with her father in public will completely mortify her. It’s called parental payback — and it’s glorious!

he should try the Asked and Answered route………they ask and you tell them no then when they ask again you get down to their level and say…….Did you ask a question………yes and Did I give you an answer……….yes and my answer was what?………….No…..then every time you ask I will say Asked and Answered. I WILL NOT change my answer.

I used to just leave the store and go home and go back when I did NOT have to take the child…….Problem solved

So which one is the most childish?

moms can do that to daughters and fathers to sons, but never mothers to sons of fathers(or grandfathers) to daughters.

I was thinking “that day will soon be gone forever and he’ll miss them.”

My Mom brought me a mini basket when I was younger and too old to fit in the basket…I put my dolls in there whenever we went shopping and she would let me pick out my favorite fruit and veggies

I remember once giving my young son the usual lecture about hands in pockets and no whining for treats when I was putting him in the seat of a cart. A few minutes later an older lady stopped me and thanked me for doing so. She said she was so tired of spoiled kids screaming and grabbing at everything in sight. This was just a few years before this strip was first published.

That’s not the way it’s done, John. The answer is ‘no, because I said so’, finis, endit, done.

Ah well .. if all else fails, there is always the Jaws of Life, eh?

At some point you have to just say “NO”.