We have House Rules. I wrote them out on on a piece of poster board and hung it on the wall a few months ago because my kid is more likely to abide by something if it feels official.
Rule # 1 is "No Whining or Complaining" and it is the most frequently broken of our bona fide House Rules.
Huck: <incessant whining and complaining because I won't play chess with him.>
Me: Alright Huck, that's enough. Why don't you go have a look at House Rule #1.
He stops whining long enough to stomp over to the House Rules Poster and stands there for a few seconds.
Me: Well? What's rule #1, Huck?
Huck: Rule #1 is I can't read yet.
"No Sassing your Mom" could turn out to be a future House Rule, but for now I happen to think the kid has a point.
