by Steven Kent

“‘Mummy would prefer you not to do that’: How ‘no’ became a dirty word in parenting”
—The Guardian

Now, don’t say Mummy isn’t fun,
But some things, darling, just aren’t done.
It’s better, dear, if we should choose
To not steal Conor’s coat and shoes,
And won’t it be so jolly if
We don’t shove Carly off a cliff?
Why, yes, you’d be within your rights
To punch out little Liam’s lights,
Yet doing so would seem ill-bred;
Let’s go for tea and cakes instead.