"Pick your battles"
The warcry of overworked moms when asked what they would share with other moms, what advice they want to pass on. When it comes to them getting dressed and what they should wear: pick your battles. Here's just a few of the battles that I choose not to fight in the effort to keep my sanity and to keep the house moving.
1. What she wears. As long as it's weather appropriate, I've given up on fighting about what shirt or pants it needs to be. Honestly, if she has clothes on when I need to leave the house it's a win already.
2. Eating too much fruit/vegetable for a snack so she's too full for supper. Well, she's full (win 1) and she ate something healthy (win 2) so I don't see the need to win the third and make her eat again.
3. Shoes in the car. I tried, for years I tried, and they never stay on so I give up. I just leave 2 minutes earlier so there's time to put them back on.
4. Sleeping the night with out a pull up. I honestly just don't care that much if she pees at night, and I would rather spend the 25 cents on a pull up then wake her up every 2 or 3 hours to pee. I feel her sleep is more important, and it just means she's not dehydrated. She'll stop when her bladder is ready.
5. Toys going in the right spot. Again, I tried, for so long. Then I decided that if I'm not stepping on them I don't care if they are in the right bin She does know that doing it this way means she can't ask me where something is that she can't find.
6. What's for supper, as long as it's healthy. If I want pees but she wants broccoli, then broccoli it is! This also works in grocery stores, if I am buying carrots and she wants cauliflower then she can have it. I've been judged on this theory, but as long as she's picking healthy foods I want to encourage her choices.
7. What books to take out of the library. Let's face it, she's reading. That's a win. Picking her own books is also a win, and helps her with the decision making process.
8. Playing with water in the bathroom. I figure at least it's the bathroom, and she does have to clean it up, so is it worth the argument?
9. Clothes at home. It's not unusual for me to announce that there are people coming over, better get dressed. I've officially given up on keeping a child clothed at home when we aren't going anywhere and no one is visiting. She has the whole rest of her life to stay dressed, and the fact that it's not happening when we go visiting or in stores makes me happier.
10. What time we get up. I have never really fought against this, but I see moms regularily looking for ways to get kids to sleep later or stay in bed. The fact is that when they have enough sleep they get up, and just because mom didn't doesn't mean it needs to change, just that I need to plan better so I'm not so tired. I've gotten up at 5 am, 6 am, and on a good day, 8 am.