It's hard to hear the child cry, wail and go on and on about how they don't want to take a nap, they're not really tired, etcetera, etcetera. It's not those statements that are hard though. It's the wailing, as if in some sort of real pain, that is the really heart renching part. As a good parent, you try to stay really keen to the energy behind the crying though, because at this age (3-4yrs.) they still can't thoroughly express themselves with words all that well so you are vigilant not to get caught on the side of 'negligence' when it comes to attending to your child. You know though, that if you let them play you at this age, that it will NEVER STOP.
This service of diligent and consistent expectations and responses is your gift to your child so that their person may benefit from it as they grow and develop into the human being they will become. Even though this is Our Drive as parents and as commendable as it is, it still doesn't make it any easier to withstand the cries of the bruised ego and hurt feelings of your beloved child.
"Don't kid yourself, parenting is not for the faint of Heart." --myself