Search Results for: blog trusting and allowing them to make their own decisions

Raising an Independent Child

As a parent you’ve probably heard the all familiar phrase, “I can do it myself!” Logan’s been a pro at this one for about as long as I can remember. He always wants to do everything on his own, if you try to help him he smacks your hand away, until he’s succeeded on his own. While this can be rather annoying for a parent, as it does tend to take about ten times as long, it is actually a very crucial step in your child’s development. You may be tempted to take over for your child, to speed things … Continue reading →

Skipping Out on the Awards Ceremony—Allowing Them to be Who They Are

We received a notice in the mail inviting us to attend an end-of-the-year awards ceremony at my eldest daughter’s high school. Despite what you might think, she was NOT happy about it. In fact, it stressed her out. The letter didn’t tell us what the award was for (I don’t understand the anxiety-producing thought process behind that one) and it was nerve-racking for her not knowing what to prepare for. This, of course, is in the midst of her trying to wrap up all the other loose ends for graduation. I was ready and willing to go, but she was … Continue reading →

Balancing Decisions and Choices (Yours and Theirs)

I tend to write fairly often about decisions and choices—the importance of letting our children learn how to make decisions and take chances on their own instead of our doing everything for them as parents. I realize, however, that there has to be some balance between our making decisions and choices as parents, and our child’s making decisions and choices too… In my experience as a parent—and most of that time as a single parent—I have learned that when I start to feel resentment and completely overwhelmed, then things are likely out of balance. While I want my kids to … Continue reading →

What do We Let Take Us Away from our Families?

I tend to get resentful when I have to attend to things I do not want to. When it comes to my family–my kids are such a priority for me and while I do try to keep my life balanced with outside interests, I also am constantly weighing whether or not I am letting “inferior” things take me away from my family? Of course, I have to work and as a single parent, that is not an option for me–I absolutely have to work and generate income to support my family. The sort of work I do and how much … Continue reading →

Trusting and Allowing Them to Make Their Own Decisions

Parenting and worrying go hand-in-hand—we want to protect our children from big mistakes and we want to guide and nudge them in the direction that we think is right for them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. But, at the same time, we also need to learn how to allow our children to make choices and decisions too; and we need to trust that they will make choices and decisions that are right for them—even if they are not the same choices we would make! This trust and allowing room for personal choice starts early. I know that some … Continue reading →

We Don’t Have to React to Our Kid’s Opinions

I currently live in a land of opinions and opinionated teenagers. If there is one thing you can say about teenagers it is that they are very open with their developing ideas and opinions on things. While my kids used to say things like “We think this, don’t we mom?” when they were pleasing little grade-schoolers, now they are much more likely to share opinions and ideas that are in complete opposition of my own opinions and belief systems. Sometimes, of course, they are trying to get a “rise” out of me, but other times they are just working out … Continue reading →