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Which battles do you fight?

The phrase "pick your battles" is a common one shared among parents. I've realized that I am very strict in some areas but oh so very lax in others. Why do we pick the battles that we pick? Is it our own upbringing, our religious values, society?

This really isn't an interactive blog, but I am dying to know---which battles do you pick to fight with your children?



We have several that we've chosen to fight or not fight, here are a few:


A couple of weeks ago Luke decided--all on his own--that he is a vegetarian. He has his reasons (who knows where he got them...) You think I'm kidding? We begged him to go to McDonalds the other day and he said "why, there is nothing for me to eat there". I've decided not to fight him on this one.



Tucker enjoys running around naked (see previous posts) I've decided to let go and allow him to be free.



I let the dog sleep in bed with Eden. In fact, Eden gives me such a hard time about going to bed, I let her make up her own rules (just as long as she stays in there!)

Some of my quirky battles:
Those that play an instrument will practice every day (even if it means skipping a meal--just kidding..kind of)
You will make your bed every day (even if mom doesn't!)
We will eat dinner every night together
We will take a quiet time every day

That is enough for now~tell me about yours!

Comments

Natallee said…
This is so funny!! Oh Luke- what a kid!!
Our family is still so young that our battles are basically like this:
1- no teasing
2- no hitting
3- no teasing
4- please just close your eyes during prayers- PLEASE!!! (and try to be quiet too)
5- Eat enough food on your plate to not have CPS called on me for starving my children
6- NO TEASING
September 14, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Collings said…
Nat, I love it and I miss your boys.
September 14, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Liz said…
Two battles:
Ebay
Young Women
The rest of my life goes to pot. Sorry kids, grandkids.....Later
September 15, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Evecall said…
The battles I dont pick:
Texting: I have realized this is something kids do and if I yell at her every time she does it we would never have a conversation.
Dinner: If they dont want what I am cooking they can find their own. I also dont make them eat everything, my parents did and now I feel guilty not cleaning my plate.
Battles I do pick:
Cleaning up after themselves: My children will have fond memories of their mom yelling every day to clean up, maybe they will have clean houses when they grow up.
Young Women: My parents did not make me go, hence, many of the problems I had as a teenager. Besides I am in the Young Women's presidency so she has no excuse.
There are many more but that's just a sample, see you are not alone! If you picked every battle you would not be sane anymore.
September 16, 2008 at 8:26 AM
Michaelynn said…
We have a lot of weird rules that we have been forced to adopt. Mostly, no hitting, fighting etc - especially when you are mad. But as long as we do our best to keep them safe and provide normal limits of discipline, we can't really battle much more than that.

And Luke is simply too funny!
September 17, 2008 at 7:15 PM
Cailean said…
Hello! I found your blog through Michaelynn. I don't know if you remember us - we moved into the 7th ward maybe a year before you moved out. You have a beautiful family! So about the sudden vegetarianism - my husband was a vegetarian from around age 3 and it continued until his mission when he decided to be polite and eat what was served to him in Mexico...but since his mission he eats meat sparingly. I guess you never know how long a phase will last! The battles I pick are: No physical violence, no taking things like food/clothes/etc. for granted, and no rudeness to anyone ever. Other than that, I try to figure out how important something is at the time and try to be consistent :)
September 19, 2008 at 10:22 PM
The Dillon 6 said…
I have too many battles. But here are a couple of my tops that I DO fight:

1) PLEASE be reverent during family prayers ~ this is not your chance to bounce, wiggle, and roll around on the floor

2) Don't ask for a second helping of a meal and then not finish it

3) Don't ask, beg, plead for a snack (which I won't give you) and then NOT eat your dinner 20 minutes later

You're a good Mom, Bianca, so don't beat yourself up!!
September 20, 2008 at 9:06 PM
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