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Cookies for breakfast

A lot of people think that asking for things is difficult and; therefore, not worth the effort.  But, the truth of the matter is that asking for things is one of the easiest things you can do.  If you don't think that's right, then just take a look at the children around you. 

My two-year-old daughter asks for everything.  When she wakes up she asks for breakfast.  She starts off asking for cookies.  When I say no, she asks for candy (also a "no").  She asks for cake and cupcakes.  After going through an extensive list of "no" items, we make it to the "yes" items.  At nap time, she asks to read 40 books.  We negotiate and she gets to read two.  She asks for 20 more minutes of bath time and we negotiate down to five.  There's a pattern here.  It involves a sense of fearlessness in asking for things in the mind of my daughter.  She knows what she wants.  She's willing to compromise.  And, she understands (or at least can repeat verbatim) that she can ask but Mommy can always say no.  This understanding of potentially being told no doesn't dissuade her.  She always asks.  And, as is possible with each of us, there are many times she receives what she asks for. 

Fearlessness does not guarantee that you're going to always receive what you ask for.  It does guarantee at least one of these possibilities: 1. you'll get what you ask for, 2. you'll get something, even if it's less than you ask for, 3. you won't get what you ask for, but will most likely be in no worse place than if you didn't ask.  Having this fearlessness opens up your possibilities.  It allows you to dream of what could be and then ask for it.

I encourage you to open up to your inner two-year-old and think of the great things you want...you might just get your own version of "cookies for breakfast"!

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