| Say This | Instead |
| When I was young, I hated school rules too, but I had to follow and respect them. | The school is useless; they are unnecessarily harassing you. |
| Let’s learn to play an outdoor game together. It would be real fun playing it with you. | I am impressed that you know how to use a mobile phone much better than me. |
| Sit down, let’s discuss and figure your skating coaching which you have been longing to start for so long. | I don’t like you doing skating. Swimming is great, look at your classmate who recently won the district level championship. |
| Let’s go step by step and let me help you achieve your goals. | You leave everything mid way, wasting money and energy. I don’t think you ever want to do something. |
| Your grades have improved. Let’s celebrate your hard work by having an ice cream together. | Your grades have improved just by 10 marks. I don’t understand what you do all day having that book in your hand. |
| It was really good to see you trying to strike a conversation with our neighbor. Next time you can try to allow her to talk too. | You didn’t have to tell her this…, talk that…What were you trying to do? Don’t you know how to talk something sensible? |
| You have been asking me for a mobile phone for so long. You can use mine whenever needed. How about buying a TT table instead? Remember how much we enjoyed playing it together last holiday at the resort. | Okay. I promise to buy you a mobile if you score above 90% in your next exams. Don’t come asking to me again unless you score higher grades. |
| Let’s figure out the positive and negative together. And then I leave it up to you to make a decision. | I don’t want you to do this. Bear in mind, if I come to know that you have done it. You will see the worse of me. |
| I have had a rough day at work and I am very tired. Can you please help me in the kitchen? | Don’t irritate me now. Let’s talk later when I am free. |
| I know you are pissed about something. Come here, let’s talk about it and I will listen to you only if you talk politely and respectfully just like me. | Don’t you dare talk to me like that? Learn to talk to your elders respectfully. |
Rishi Jain 
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