Being Told "No" to Something They Really Want: Building Rejection Resilience Before Adulthood
Last Thursday, my 7-year-old stood at the kitchen counter with the most pitiful expression I’d ever seen. “Please, Mom? Just one more cookie before dinner?” The look was heartbreaking—big eyes filled with hope, bottom lip quivering slightly. I had two choices: give in to avoid the disappointment, or say no. I chose no. “Not right now, sweetie. Dinner is in 20 minutes.” The tears began immediately. In that moment, I realized we had a perfect opportunity to practice handling rejection in a low-stakes environment. ...