Avoiding Responsibility of Making a Decision About an Issue. Sometimes we avoid saying no because it involves us in making a decision about rights and wrongs of an issue and taking responsibility for that decision afterward. It is easier to say yes, particularly if we don’t find it easy to make decisions. Saying no puts burden on us to have a reason for refusal. If we cannot think of two good reasons for our decision then maybe we should re-think our position. We don’t always have to supply our reasons to our children. When we say yes they don’t ask why, they just accept answer because it was what they wanted to hear. However, as parents it won’t kill us to check our reasoning from time to time.

Fearful of Row, or Other Consequences, That May Follow. If you find yourself often avoiding saying no because you are frightened of power battle or retaliations that will follow, you need to ask yourself two questions.  Have I got myself into a power-contest with my child, and if so, why?  Am I letting myself be blackmailed by their threatened emotional reaction? If answer to either of these questions is yes, then you have two more questions to answer.  Who is in charge?  Who should be in charge?

Needing Approval, and fearing Rejection. Some parents may find it hard to say no because they are afraid their children won’t like them if they don’t give them what they want. They need to be liked and need to feel that their child is their friend. If you are looking for approval and friendship from your child, especially if you need it for your own self-esteem, then you are putting a huge burden on your child that they should not be asked to carry. We as parents need to be constant factor in our children’s lives. We need to be their rock of guidance and security.

Wanting to Keep Times You Are Together Free from Conflict. It is very hard for a parent who does not spend much time, for whatever reason, with their child to start being tough and causing upset. It is only natural that you want to keep those precious moments free from conflict. Non custodial parents sometimes spoil their children when it’s their weekend “on”. Working parents who arrive home near bedtime may find it hard to resist pleas for more time and attention. Our children have a way of knowing weak spot, and will exploit it for all it’s worth. To them it’s worth a lot. But giving in or being soft is not in their best interest.

We know that it can be a hard world out there sometimes. At some point in their lives our children are going to have to face it on their own. We meet our responsibilities as parents by properly equipping them to successfully meet and overcome obstacles they will surely face. Don’t send your precious child out there unprepared.

How to start You may, at this point, feel overwhelmed. After all, you are learning a second language -- with no one to teach you. Please don't worry. First of all, you only need to learn a few words to being signing with your baby. 

Begin with 4-6 words -- choose a few words that are of importance to you (words that will make your life easier, like eat, milk, more, etc.) and also choose some that are of interest to your baby (for instance, airplane, ball, book, dog, cat, baby, etc.). This ensures that both of you are rewarded for your efforts.

Once you choose a few words, you can begin signing whenever you say those words. When your baby cries, you say "Do you want milk?" Then, sign milk at baby's eye level so she will begin to associate cause and effect and realize hands MEAN something!

At what age should you start? You can start from birth on. The earlier you start, more time you, as parent, will have to get comfortable signing. Babies 6 months and older will begin to watch your hand movements. Babies 8 months old may begin to make very rudimentary attempts to sign back to you. By one year, your baby will likely be signing regularly.

If you have an older baby or toddler who is having frustration issues or is a late talker, begin signing. Start today. Toddlers pick up signing very quickly.

Don't think you have to learn an entire language for this to work. Just learn one sign today and get started. Enjoy gift of communicating with your baby!