Choosing your Battles

A key to limiting the stress of parenting is to choose your battles carefully. At times I let my kids get away with things only because I have decided that the issue at hand is not worth the battle.

As a parent, you need to choose your battles carefully.

Last night I threw a pizza in the oven while I changed into my soccer uniform. As I was putting on my socks, Madigan (17 months old) emptied a grocery bag that hubby had left at the stairs.

Mags was hungry, she rummaged through the bag and found something to her liking and brought it to me.

When she presented the item to me I laughed, it was heavy and my little princess had lugged it over to me hoping I would give her a before-dinner snack. I told her no. She protested. I laughed and told her that she does not want the item in the bag, instead, she should wait for the yummy pizza. She protested a little louder and a bit more forceful. Again, I told her dinner was coming and that she would not like what was in the bag. I pointed to the picture on the bag and told her the contents were yucky-yucky.

She clutched the 1.3 kg bag and screeched like a healthy, frustrated, stubborn 17 month old. I tried to take the bag away from her, but she swatted my hand and pointed at it and yelled, "EAT". I told her no, pizza was coming.

Madigan then tried to pick open the seal of the bag. I reached over and took away the bag, placing it high on the counter. Madigan threw a temper tantrum that would make any 2 year old proud!

I laughed and reminded her that the bag she had chosen was not for her: pizza was for her. I let her look into the oven where the pizza was cooking. Madigan pulled away and stood near the treat she wanted. Crying, screeching, yelling and pointing at the now highly prized treat.

I decided that this battle was not worth the fight.

I walked over and took the bag, opened it up and gave her one little piece.

I told her, "Yucky, not good for Madigan, give it to Cleo". Madigan protested and then put the piece into her mouth.

When I asked her if it was good and if it is what she wanted, she nodded yes, with a big smile. She had won!

Then she pointed to the bag and asked for more. She grunted and yelped when I walked away to turn off the oven as the pizza was now done.

I confirmed she wanted more and then took a small plastic bowl and placed 4 little pieces into the bowl.

I took out the pizza out of the oven, informed my hubby that I was leaving for soccer and that the pizza was ready and that Madigan was sitting quietly in the kitchen eating her snack of cat food.

And then left.

Yep. I let my daughter eat cat food for dinner.

Some battles are just not worth it.