No!

Sometimes I wonder how it would feel to be one of my cats....

Jump up on the counter... "NO!"

Claw the chair... "NO!"

Sit on my computer... "NO!"

Attack my foot that's under the covers... "AHH!! NO!!!"

All these "no"s and so few yeses. I never think twice before yelling "no", and never assume that an explanation is needed for the cat to just stop doing whatever they are doing. It might be a ploy for attention, it might be because they need something, or they might honestly just want to annoy me. These are all possibilities.

While I don't jump on counters, claw furniture, or attack peoples' feet, I do occasionally get a similar response as if I had. Usually, when an adult tells you that you are not allowed to do something, it is accompanied with an explanation of why you are being told "no". However, there are those moments (I must admit they are not as rare as we would like to think) when adults simply say "no" and don't think twice as to telling you why. 

Such occasions where this is likely to happen are...

1. The DMV.... "I checked on the website and I needed this form and–" "No." "But I have–" "No." "How about–" "I said no."

2. Diving in the shallow end.... "1....2..." "No." "But it'll be a shallow dive!" "No!"

3. Having a second dessert... "Mom, could I have one more cookie?" "No." "I'll do the dishes..." "hmm.. No."

4. Walking on the grass of a museum..... just no.

Also included is generally when you are trying to do something outside the box. I have come across many "No!"s over the past few years, one of my most discouraging ones came today. I tried to go above and beyond for my students, planning a college tour for them, and I got a very decided no from authority figures. 

Unlike my cats, I will not get off the counter/stop clawing the chair/leap off the computer/run away from the foot. I shall claw away until given a proper explanation of why I should cease to provide said opportunities, especially during DCPS College Awareness Month.

I hope my cats don't catch on to my rebellious ways... that could be bad news for my furniture.