When saying yes is kind of a no-no

A recurring challenge for all of us is the business of saying no.
It is not confined to our doctoring lives. We say no to toddlers who want a fifth repeat viewing of Peppa Pig … and then stand by for the ensuing explosion and wails of outrage.
We say no to our children who want to attend a sleepover at an unknown child’s house.
We (sometimes) say no to ourselves as we pass the chocolate bars at the checkout — except on those occasions when we deem it to be medically appropriate, in fact medically essential to have just one little something.