Just Make a Decision!

my most recent MOPS newsletter article:

After a frustrated friend called me the other day to get some advice about the food she'd prepared for her 2 yr old that she was now just throwing away, I got to thinking. What makes the decisions I make right? Now, I'm not talking about the eternal ones or the moral ones but I am talking about the 'mommy' ones. You know: Do I make them eat these peas that they are spitting out at me? Do I spank? How do I handle my crazy child who seems to go into convulsions at the most inconvenient time? What is the appropriate disciple for _____age? and the list goes on.
I have come to a conclusion but before I share let me clear a few things up: I believe in the power of prayer, I believe there is a wealth of great information out there about parenting and above all I believe that my children will one day blame me for all the 'wrong' decisions I made so really, it doesn't matter anyway!
So between that, my own experience and close mentors here's my grand conclusion:
#1 Stop reading the parenting books!!!!! Burn them if you have to. Instead, call a fellow martyr, one who's kids you admire, and ask her. Find an older mommy and attach yourself to her - everyone loves to give advice, you won't be bothering anyone!
#2 Make your decisions and then simply stick to them with explanation or not. This has been key for my own family. Thinking about a decision takes so much energy so just decide and then move on, it frees you up to stop worrying about it.
Your kids have the best mommy that anyone could ever ask for - it was God's design not yours. Leave the mistakes of the decisions in His hands and pray like crazy!