Can you say NO..
I have been swamped in every direction with questions I want to say NO to but hesitate and then guilt myself with why I should or shouldn’t do it. I beat myself up and ponder it over and over. Some things should be easy to say no to. But I am a pleaser by nature and it comes by very hard to do.
Remember when you were little and asked for something and your mom said, "We'll see," it was always better than a flat out, "No." Much like “maybe” it feels like it could happen. “I will think about it" gives you hope when you ask for something.
These types of responses are a nicer way of saying “No” and are easier to hear than the actual thought going through your head. It is hard to say no, and much easier to brush off the question with a maybe.
I am a MAYBE abuser. I use it all the time. My son pointed it out to me this week that I never say YES right away. It got me thinking why I do this. Is it that hard to say No or Yes to a direct question??
As a mom, my kids are always asking questions which in return would make me add more to my to do list, so I find myself using theses responses instead of simply saying NO. I want to be involved and please them but time is a huge factor in today’s time or lack of time. My schedule is already so packed with the activities there is no room for much more…
I hate to hurt my kids feeling and make them feel bad! It is also reality (Larry’s favorite word) that we cant say yes to everything but using these push off responses gives them time to forget the request or desire. lol
Being an avid book reader, I found this book by Mary Byers, "How to Say No ... And Live to Tell About It." I haven’t started to read it yet but I hope it can teach me something. She is a great author and very funny. I see her at a Christian concert in Wisconsin a year ago.
I will let you know how it goes. But until then I will try to be more firm with my answers…doubtful!