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The "selective hearing" option SOUNDS good in theory, but I think it's a bad
idea.

If I'm upset about something and my dh tunes me out on purpose, is that
helpful to our relationship? I think children don't have the communication
skills of an adult and whining is going to happen.
If you decide to ignore it, chances are the child is going to feel worse, not
better! And I'm quite sure it won't cure whining.
I say to Sierra "If you could use a different voice I could hear you better"
in reference to a whiny sounding voice. But I take the complaint/desire very
seriously.

A child that wants a pool and can't have a pool has LOADS of other options.
Our job is to brainstorm ideas with them......
Swimming at an indoor public pool, buying a small wading pool (heck, we've
had swim time in our teensy kitchen with a wading pool!) having a water fight
somewhere with water guns or water balloons, A large bucket full of water on
the patio or deck to sit and play in, filling the bathtub up SUPER full and
putting swim trunks on (covering the floor with towels is helpful to avoid
flooding damage :), water play in the kitchen sink....
Anyway, you get the idea.
There are always options. Being creative and coming up with solutions to a
need is MUCH more helpful than ignoring a desire.
At the very least you can sympathize and say things like "if I had a magic
wand I'd make a pool appear right in our apartment!"
Fantasize about what it would be like to have a big pool right in the room,
or if the streets were canals and you had to swim to the grocery store. Find
ways to turn the negative into a positive.
Follow the flow of electricity! (negative to positive)...:)

Ren
"They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible
spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of the
moon."
--The Owl and the Pussycat
Edward Lear