06 September 1994

Parenting Lesson #1


My sister-in-law had come by our shop to help out with a really big job and she had brought her little four-year-old son with her. Easily bored, the kid was soon asking ...


Nephew: C’n I go outside to play?

Sister-In-Law: No, It’s not safe to play on the sidewalk downtown.

Undeterred, the little boy kept asking ...


Nephew: C’n I go outside to play? — C’n I go outside to play? — C’n I go outside to play? — C’n I go outside to play?

So, my sister-in-law kept saying “no,” but at last she snapped ...


Sister-In-Law: Why do you keep asking me that?

Nephew: Because if I ask you again, and again, and again — you’ll say yes!

About half-an-hour later, he wanted something else and he asked Wife-Mate ...


Nephew: Auntie, c’n I have a Coke?

Wife-Mate: No.

Nephew: (Begins crying.)

Sister-In-Law: Now what’s wrong?

Nephew: If I ask Auntie again, and again, and again — she still won’t say yes!