quote:

We always phrased it that way, too -- You lost the privilege of ... because your behavior shows you can't handle it.

Ouch~

I was thinking perhaps something like 'because you made the wrong choice' >>> my thinking is they can handle it, they simply choose to do what I often do...make the wrong choice.

Saint Deb,
I think the idea is the same, and it could be worded either way. What I meant was to emphasize to them that their behavior caused them to lose the privilege, rather than that I was taking it from them. You're right, they made a wrong choice which is why the privilege was lost. I did also tell them that everyone makes wrong choices sometimes (and has consequences because of it). In these cases, though, I wanted them to understand that they lost the privilege because of their behavior, not because Mom was being mean and took it away from them.

Good point!