At Loggerhead

Is it the age or is it something I am doing wrong? I cannot say and it is frustrating me. My son and I are constantly at loggerheads and it truly tries my patience.

I greet with him with the greatest of joy, having missed his presence for the whole day. Then he asks me if he can watch TV, knowing very well the answer is no. Then he asks me if he can have some candy, knowing very well the answer is a no. And so it continues, these requests which begets the dreaded no word. And it gets him in a horrible mood, he behaves badly as a result of being frustrated, then it tries my patience and sooner or later I end up blowing up.

What do I do? How do I break this vicious cycle we are in?

PUzzle and worried mom,
Nina