Parental Stresses in the Land of Choices

Choices, choices. Parents today are big on giving our kids choices. Letting them make their own decisions on what they want to wear, to eat, to go to time out or to do what was asked and on and on.  But what about all the choices parents have to make when raising our kids.  I don't know about anyone else, but frankly I'm tired being inundated with all the choices and I'm betting our kids are too.  I just want someone to tell me the truth and make it simple for me.  I'm constantly reading books to help me make the right decisions for Gavin. I worry about which decision is right or wrong and how it could affect him years down the line.  I'm sure my parents had their fair share of decisions to make back in the day, but somehow I think the world of parenting has become a bit more challenging with all the choices. And it seems the difficulty of making these choices stem from opinions. SO many opinions and studies and somehow we all come up with a different answer or my personal favorite, "What the FDA approves."

Today we have a choice to vaccinate or not to vaccinate. We have information about vaccine's we never were told before and we have to determine which opinion is as close to the truth as possible. We have a choice to feed our children organic wholesome foods or to feed them what's affordable and simple.  We have a choice to use chemicals that may cause abnormalities or cancers later in life or we can choose to avoid them whenever possible.  We have a choice of so many types of schools. And as a military family, we get to make these decisions every few years and pray it's the right school for our child.  The school where he will succeed, be challenged, not get bullied, be safe, have fun and still get a great education.  We have choices of magnet schools, public schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling. Living in a small town my parents had one choice and that was to send them to the only school available or go to jail. Pretty simple decision.

Sometimes my brain just feels fried wasting away through information trying to find truth in the choices. Inevitably as parents we all have to make them. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don't. The key is to not beat yourself up too bad when you do make the wrong decision and to maybe, just once in awhile let go of control, and give it God. He will always know how to handle it better than we do. This is a tough lesson for me and one I will forever be challenged with.  God handpicked my husband and I to raise this child as our own.  He trusted US to do the job. I have to give Him some credit that He will help me make the right choices and if I don't make the right choice to understand the lesson He is trying to teach.

*Insert whine, stomp, and mini temper tantrum here.*

Footnote: At age 18, this still hasn't changed. Likely will be the same when you have a kid. There just isn't a manual.