What it is
The published price is the number of times a child learns they have to ask, whine or push before an adult either gives in or escalates. Kids calibrate to it with incredible accuracy. If it’s always the fourth ask, the first three don’t matter.
Their behavior tracks the price, not the lesson you think you’re teaching.
How it shows up for me
When I realized my kids had learned my price, I was a little impressed and a little embarrassed. The fix was making the first answer the real one, every time. It took a couple of rough weeks, and then the asking dropped.