For the Child Who Says It’s Not Finished Yet

Four lines you can say out loud tonight. Word for word. Free to save.

What to say

1. When I say it’s over, it’s over. The end of the episode is the warning.

2. Being stopped before you’re ready feels like being cheated out of something.

3. I write the end time on the whiteboard by the TV. It says 5:40 and it doesn’t move.

4. You can say your part before the last minute. I listen, and then the screen goes dark.

When to use it

This is for the moment it actually goes wrong — not the calm version you rehearse in the car. Pick one line. Say it once. Then stop talking and wait three seconds. If they push back, repeat the same line, not a new one. Say the same thing for five nights before you decide it doesn't work.