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Article: Gimme! Buy me a ...! Take me to...! I want it! NO. William Damon has a word for parents, and he thinks it could help keep them from raising a nation of spoiled brats
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- June 12, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1995 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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When his two older children were small, psychologist William Damon
found himself one Saturday in charge of lunch.
The children wanted McDonald's. He suggested alternatives, which
they rejected. So he told them McDonald's was closed on weekends.
"They bought the story," he said -- at least until they had a chance
to check with classmates.
Damon doesn't mind telling stories on himself -- as long as they
illustrate his belief that parents (and teachers and the community)
have to learn to say no to their children.
What Damon now says he should have done -- and what he says every
parent should do in a similar situation -- was to tell the children
that he did not want to have a fast-food lunch and ...