Tough decisions

I think one of the hardest parts of being a parent is making decisions.  It starts before your kids are even born.  There are the big decisions, the small decisions and everything in between.  I remember wishing the boys would just come out with a name so that we woulnd't have to decide.  After all they have to live with their name for the rest of their life.  Then there were the decisions like car seats, cribs, what van to buy and so many other decisions. 

The thing that makes the decisions the hardest is that every person you meet has an opinion about what you decide.  You chose that car seat?  That's not the safest.  You let them cry at night?  They'll develop psychological issues.  It goes on and on.  From what you feed them to vaccines and even how you discipline.  Don't get me wrong.  I often ask for people's opinions and I'm glad to hear them.  I just don't really want to be bombarded with opinions every time I log on to facebook or venture out to a store.  The truth is that being a parent is hard and we need to support each other, not put each other down.  I see far too much of that and quite frankly I'm tired of it.  I find myself judging people's decisions about parenting too and I'm trying to control that.  Unless someone asks for my opinion on their parenting decision I try keep my mouth shut. 

That being said I feel like we've been making some tough decisions lately that are sure to cause people to give me their opinion.  We've decided that Devyn won't get any solids until 6 months.  Our dr always gives us information on what current research suggests and then leaves it up to us.  Nate pretty much left this decision in my hands because I'm the one who has to feed her and get up with her at night.  I feel strongly that if I can do anything to avoid or lessen her chance of food allergies I'll do it.  Having one child with food allergies is hard enough.

On that same note we are constantly making decisions on what we can and can't do with Noah.  People sometimes think we are overreacting when we don't go places, but his safety is more important than going out.  We went out to eat Saturday night and he has some hives on his face.  We knew that we ordered him something "safe", but the risk for cross-contamination always exists.  Our allergist always stresses that any time we go out we take a risk.  I was in a panic and asked Nate to watch him (he's much more calm and won't overreact about it).  He was fine, but it was a good reminder that we have to be incredibly careful with him.  No matter where we go the risk of him touching something that has been contaminated with peanuts or tree nuts exists.

Parenting is hard.  I don't care if you have 1 child, 4 children or 10 children.  It's hard.  You are constantly making decisions that will affect your little people.  Some of those decisions, like discipline, will shape them into the individuals they will grow up to be.  Some of those decisions, like whether or not to give them a piece of candy, will have less of an impact.  Whether big or small the decisions are hard.  So, please support each other.  Use your words to encourage another parent on the difficult journey that they are on.