Comments on: Too Many Choices?

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:38:34 +0000

Andrea, great strategy! I often do that as well, and the kids still feel like they are making an independent choice.

e-Mom, thanks for the comment. Don’t want too many backseat drivers, ya know!

By: e-Mom

e-Mom — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:50:35 +0000

Limiting our childrens’ choices keeps Mom in the driver’s seat where she should be, but allows some freedom of thought on our childrens’ part. I like your idea of limiting your kids’ choice to one of three books, rather than one of 100. Go Mom!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 22:07:46 +0000

This reminds me of when my kids were little and I wanted them to do something. I would give them two choices… one would be the one they did not want to do… the other would be far less desireable. But they always had a choice.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:27:27 +0000

Renae and Dana – both of you make good points that I wouldn’t want to miss. There is a danger at the other extreme of becoming apathetic. I’m not in any way advocating what is called “Good Enough Parenting,” and there are actually plenty of parenting books out there on the subject – that can lead down a dangerous path of always taking the easy way out. There is a certain amount of difficult choice that needs to be happening in your daily life, and I’d hate for anyone to come away from this little article thinking they’re scot-free. :-)

Mrs. Darling, The Good Ol’ Days! There’s something to be said for that.

Jane, I was hoping for balance!

By: Dana

Dana — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 05:27:52 +0000

This is good to remember. We have a small crate of books the children choose from for stories and that rotates regularly. They are so excited when the new books come out!

When I became a parent, I wanted to do everything “right.” I read a bunch of books and quickly realized that you can find an expert saying just about anything. At first this stressed me. Then it sort of freed me. All the contradictions forced me to follow what I thought was best for my children. And a parent’s love can be pretty powerful, if you do not let yourself get apathetic and just choose what is easiest.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 05:03:49 +0000

Good advice here. I like the balanced approach.

By: mrs darling

mrs darling — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:56:11 +0000

When I was a kid there were no choices. Mom or dad said do it and you did it! Life was easier that way.

By: Renae

Renae — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:40:34 +0000

I think we have a tendency to either become obsessive or apathetic in this culture of abundance. This is a good reminder that good enough really can be good enough.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:38:42 +0000

Too Many Choices?

Does having too many choices affect our well-being? Maybe good enough should be good enough most of the time.