Oh No—I Think I’ve Created a Monster Brat Child

Slate Plus members get more Care and Feeding every week. 1) We were at a climbing wall activity park with her gymnastics friends, celebrating the end of gymnastics classes for the season, when she asked, “When we’re finished here, can we go on the arcade games?” 2) During her spring break, which was packed full of activities, she asked for a playdate on the one day she didn’t have anything planned, and I said yes—and then half an hour in, she asked if I would take her and her friend to the park. It’s OK to say, “Nope, no arcade games today,” or, “I don’t feel like driving to the park. Why don’t you two play in the backyard instead?” It’s OK to say, “Eating out is special. But I think you also need to teach yourself to be more patient, empathetic, and compassionate—you don’t get to be “over” your own 7-year-old—as well as tougher.