WT 319: Pick Your Battles!
We've all heard the advice to "pick your battles" as a mom. But which battles are the right ones to pick? We asked you to send in the battles you're frustrated by in your home and Karen is going to weigh in with whether or not it's worth the fight. Play along as you listen, can you guess what Karen's answer will be??
Mentioned on today’s episode:
BATTLE: We have a van with a dvd system and when we first got it I said the rule was no videos unless it was a long drive, but pretty much every time we are in the car my kids want to watch a show and I give in. I feel like it’s a battle I don’t care to fight, but at the same time I’m sure it’s ruining their brains! What do you think?
Karen’s Answer: YES or NO? Well, I want to support her and her decision, but if she is questioning her own self, then it’s not a fight I would fight. I would tell the children that SHE changed her mind. Also, Kassandra if you really don’t want them to watch videos then stick to your gun’s girl. ☺ I don’t think you are ruining their brains, and if you are worried about that, then get Christian videos they can watch.
BATTLE: Almost 18yr old son (junior in HS) dating girlfriend (18 yr old, senior in HS) for over a year. Allow them in the basement to hang out together? Son’s bedroom and workout room are down there. Or make them stay upstairs in common areas?
Karen’s Answer: Yes, fight this battle! Is there a tv in the basement that is not in the bedroom? If yes, I’d let them watch tv together there, but keep an eye on them. If bedroom is the only room besides the workout room, then staying upstairs it is for them.
BATTLE: 4 year old talking about poop, saying poopy all the time . We remind him it’s just to talk about in the bathroom, but he slips it in every day! Do I let it go or give him a consequence?
Karen’s Answer: No - let it go. The more you make a big deal about it, the worse he will get.
BATTLE: My Mother In Law buys my girls (7 and 4) what I consider age inappropriate clothing- lots of skin showing. My MIL and her daughters also choose very revealing clothing for themselves and I worry about this influence on my girls. But I also worry if I push back too hard, it will backfire. My MIL is very pushy so it’s a constant battle over my girls’ appearance when we’re with her. Do I speak up or do I let it go?
Karen’s Answer: YES. Speak up. Why don’t y’all go shopping together and take her to the stores that you like for your girls. Tell her you and your husband don’t want them to grow up too fast, and are working really hard on keeping them at their age and not to look like a teenager.
BATTLE: My 2 yr old is refusing to take a nap during the day. He usually sleeps 12 hours at night but is cranky by supper time without his nap. We also have a 6 month old in the thick of teething and not sleeping well at the moment
Karen’s Answer: If he is sleeping 12 hours at night, I wouldn’t worry about the nap. When toddlers give up their nap they are cranky at supper. What if you just told him to rest in his room, read books, play quietly for an hour. He doesn’t have to sleep, just have some alone time.
BATTLE: My battle is getting my kids (5.5 and 2.5) to eat their dang meals! This is a battle every meal, every day. It's "wahhhh, I'm not hungry" during mealtime, and 15 min after we're done, they're suddenly "starving!" but not for the meal food, for snacks! Drives me nuts! I'm fixing to have baby #3, and I am over the meantime drama! I cannot seem to just let it go and let them eat snack junk and skip their meals. Is this a battle worth fighting??
Karen’s Answer: Yes! Fight the battle. No snacks until their meals are eaten. They may go to bed hungry a few times, but stick to your guns.
BATTLE: Dressing for the weather - coats of course (more for my pre-teens) but even socks! It literally makes my 8 yr old red/yellow daughter have a meltdown because she says she overheats when she is wearing socks
Karen’s Answer: No, don’t fight the battle. Taylor wore shorts year round. It wasn’t worth the fight.
BATTLE: My 8-year-old wants to go to adult church service instead of the children's church, but then whines about how boring it is. Do I enforce attending children’s church so I can have peace during the adult service?
Karen’s Answer: I’d tell him if he goes to church and complains one time, he’s going back to children’s church. Then stick to it.
If you have a question about motherhood we want to hear it, so make sure you visit birdsonawiremoms.com/askkaren and tune in each week to see if we cover your question. You can also find on us on Instagram and Facebook, so follow us over there and send questions our way on social media as well.
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