Variety is the spice of life
I have read numerous parenting books and articles, and all of them recommend letting Toddlers make their own choices whenever possible. They strive for control, and yet have so little control in their lives. What to eat, where they go out (since they don't have cars and driver's licenses) what they're allowed to play with at home (they don't understand that parents have to forbid things that are dangerous) ... all these things are decided by parents.
I try to let Michael make decisions whenever I can. I let him pick the cabin when he goes to ride the kid's train at the outdoor mall (he picked the blue one this time, he usually takes the red one at the back, but it wasn't there since it was out for maintenance).
We took him to Publix, and I let him pick out his free cookie. He always goes for chocolate chip. So, I was really surprised when he pointed at the sugar cookies in the middle. There were 2 stacks of colored sprinkles to the left, a small single stack of sugar cookies in the middle, and then 2 stacks of chocolate chip in the right.
I asked him "are you sure?" and he pointed right at the sugar cookies again. Proud of him for being willing to try something different.
After he bit into it, I noticed a look of regret on his face. Maybe I was reading too much into his facial expressions, but I didn't get the same sense of "all my sensory nerves are tingling with joy" that I usually see in his face when he's eating something he really enjoys (i.e. Chocolate Chip cookies). He did finish the whole cookie though, and he didn't complain or whine for another one. I'm proud of him for realizing that he gets ONE cookie, and to make the most of his decision.
I try to let Michael make decisions whenever I can. I let him pick the cabin when he goes to ride the kid's train at the outdoor mall (he picked the blue one this time, he usually takes the red one at the back, but it wasn't there since it was out for maintenance).
We took him to Publix, and I let him pick out his free cookie. He always goes for chocolate chip. So, I was really surprised when he pointed at the sugar cookies in the middle. There were 2 stacks of colored sprinkles to the left, a small single stack of sugar cookies in the middle, and then 2 stacks of chocolate chip in the right.
I asked him "are you sure?" and he pointed right at the sugar cookies again. Proud of him for being willing to try something different.
After he bit into it, I noticed a look of regret on his face. Maybe I was reading too much into his facial expressions, but I didn't get the same sense of "all my sensory nerves are tingling with joy" that I usually see in his face when he's eating something he really enjoys (i.e. Chocolate Chip cookies). He did finish the whole cookie though, and he didn't complain or whine for another one. I'm proud of him for realizing that he gets ONE cookie, and to make the most of his decision.
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