"No, because..." is what I have always used. "Liebling, do not run around when Mamma has a hot drink. If you bump the drink it will spill and hurt someone." It is longer to say than "NO!" but he knows why I have said no so respects it more than a straight "no".
To add to Santosha, I find that distraction works well too. "Liebling, can you help me push the trolley and find the food?" That is better than "don't run off" because he is engaged with the shopping.
All else fails, I just say "meow" and DS stops what he is doing to play with the "cat". But Palmer may be a bit young for that.
I honestly can't remember when they start taking you seriously, my eldest are 16 & 19 but I can tell you that they stop again when they hit their teens lol
My 9 month old knows what NO means but also doesn't care. He crawled over to the computer chair today (for the 100th time) and pulled himself up to stand at it then turned around and looked at me and went "ha" so I know what you mean
So glad it's not just my toddler - I thought I had been doing something very wrong!
It's annoying sometimes when they are so defiant...especially becuase P gets SO much more defiant when she is tired, and by that point, I am usually tired too.
LOL
This thread make me laugh because it just describe children from 6mths onwards in my experience.
If you ever figure out how to make them listen please let me know, I am desperate here....
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