Joy - Blog

Morning in Washington & Stephen Sondheim

Well, I've started off my morning with a bang. I ate a mealy banana, made watery coffee, which I promptly spilled on myself and followed up that disaster with an emotional one as I began digging around for old sweatpants to wear since I don't fit into any of my pre-pregnancy jeans. I haven't been home to Washington for 6 months so all my clothes are about 2 sizes too small. Enter the waterworks.. "I have nothing to WEAR!" Cue the bewildered husband, "I still think you're beautiful, Baby. I'm sure you'll find something." Next up is the pukey baby, but she's all smiles so it doesn't bother me much, andfinally I have a broken Blackberry, which, I'm sorry to say, is the last straw in my tolerance for this phone and we're breaking up.

Despite all these mishaps, I'm still so glad to be home in Washington. The weather is cloudy and crisp (perfect West Wing watching weather-- say that 3 times fast), my cat is thrilled that we're home so she's extra snuggly, the pup is jealous of the cat and the kid so he sulks quietly in the corner and I have a day full of free time so I thought I'd check in with all of you folk!

I was thinking about the word "No" the other day. I've noticed a lot of kids learning to speak adopt "No" as their favorite word. Why do they hear this word more often than "yes?" Or is it more a question of power? Do children understand the authority wielded by the word "No" and desire it? How often do we use "No" unnecessarily in conversation or when trying to correct? Aren't "I'd rather not", "I didn't", "Please don't", and "That isn't it", etc... just as effective without the umbrella of misunderstandings that seem to be caused by the word "No?"

I think I'd like to try a few days or weeks without No... without communicating the negative so easily. I want to do this for my own ability to communicate and for more focus on gratitude; I want to do this for my relationships so there is a decrease in negativity and I want to do this for my child so that she understands that YES and positive words are worth saying often and that NO is something for special reserve. Children are such sponges to their environment. Lets teach them to soak up good things! And maybe in the process the little child inside all of us will relearn a few things too...