‎"No fair!" 
How often do you hear these words each day? In our house, they are usually followed by a shout for Mom and a complaint about sibling's actions. As aggravating as these situations can be (especially when piled one on top of the other), they are actually golden opportunities to teach our children how to relate to each other and to all the others who will come into their lives. 
What does our child mean when they cry, "No fair!"? Usually that their desires or expectations aren't being met. The definition for fair becomes child getting what they feel they deserve. As parents we can offer different definitions. 
Fair can mean: 

• that the reasonable and just outcome has occurred. 
• that the needs of everyone in the situation have been met. 
• that child has offered to sibling or playmate the treatment child would desire. 

As we help our child consider these definitions for fair, they can move beyond a focus on simply getting what they want and move on to considering others. 
The next time you hear, "No fair," take a deep breath and consider--"this is the opportunity to give my child a vision that is bigger that him/herself." You may still get a little overwhelmed, but you turn the moment into a lesson on relating to others.

1 Please join us to encourage each other with your insights, remembering to keep comments uplifting and considerate of all. Click on 'comments' above to discuss this month's topic.