Comments on: Ramrod, doormat, or … ? http://spaceagesage.com/2008/09/22/ramrod-doormat-or/ Where wisdom fuels change Tue, 22 May 2012 17:10:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: spaceagesage http://spaceagesage.com/2008/09/22/ramrod-doormat-or/#comment-1423 spaceagesage Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:08:43 +0000 http://spaceagesage.com/?p=795#comment-1423 Hi, Jean Browman--Cheerful Monk -- Thanks for that phrase "cheerfully firm" -- I like it! I can just see and hear that 18-month-old in my mind. It's amazing the things that help us cope! Hi, Jean Browman–Cheerful Monk –
Thanks for that phrase “cheerfully firm” — I like it! I can just see and hear that 18-month-old in my mind. It’s amazing the things that help us cope!

]]> By: Jean Browman--Cheerful Monk http://spaceagesage.com/2008/09/22/ramrod-doormat-or/#comment-1422 Jean Browman--Cheerful Monk Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:46:00 +0000 http://spaceagesage.com/?p=795#comment-1422 When I was raising my daughter my favorite quote was Dr. Benjamin Spock's "cheerfully firm". My daughter is an adult now, but I still use the phrase when I need to set boundaries and want to do it gracefully. It reminds me I can say no and still be friendly and loving. I also remember a friend of mine being worried when she saw her 18-month-old cheerfully standing in his crib practicing saying no. He was happy as could be, saying it over and over with different inflections. I sometimes practice doing that myself when I'm alone and need to get prepared for a difficult interaction. :) When I was raising my daughter my favorite quote was Dr. Benjamin Spock’s “cheerfully firm”. My daughter is an adult now, but I still use the phrase when I need to set boundaries and want to do it gracefully. It reminds me I can say no and still be friendly and loving.

I also remember a friend of mine being worried when she saw her 18-month-old cheerfully standing in his crib practicing saying no. He was happy as could be, saying it over and over with different inflections. I sometimes practice doing that myself when I’m alone and need to get prepared for a difficult interaction. :)

]]> By: spaceagesage http://spaceagesage.com/2008/09/22/ramrod-doormat-or/#comment-1421 spaceagesage Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:21:42 +0000 http://spaceagesage.com/?p=795#comment-1421 Hi, Barbara -- Making choices is powerful stuff indeed. I've also heard "we teach people to treat us the way they do." It took me a long while to realize my actions -- conscious or subconscious -- help created the dynamic of a relationship. It isn't something our society teaches very well. Hi, Barbara –
Making choices is powerful stuff indeed. I’ve also heard “we teach people to treat us the way they do.” It took me a long while to realize my actions — conscious or subconscious — help created the dynamic of a relationship. It isn’t something our society teaches very well.

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