When my son was four years old, we went to buy him new shoes. I really wanted him to choose sporty red ones—practical and matching most of his clothes. However, he didn’t like them at all and refused to even try them on. I thought, “What? You’re my son—why not these? They’re great!” But he wanted green ones.
I encouraged him to try on other shoes—just not the green ones, or even the red ones anymore. I remember the looks from people around us, wondering how this would end. It wasn’t pleasant.
In the end, we made a compromise: he would try on the red shoes, and I promised to buy the green ones too. He left the store wearing green dinosaur slippers, holding a bag with the red shoes.
As we were leaving, an older lady said to me, “You’ve been talked into it.” But really?
My son was learning the art of negotiation. He knew what he liked and could express it. He made a conscious decision.
Was that really “giving in”?
Family is a team playing toward the same goal. When one of us wins—we all win.
For many years, I have supported parents and caregivers of children and young people within public services. I continue to grow both professionally and personally. After more than 25 years of experience, I can say with full conviction: the mental health of children and parents, as well as parenting education, are crucial for all of us.
As parents, we sometimes need support—because life presents us with difficult challenges: neurodiversity, disability, behavioral disorders… or simply moments when we don’t know what to do.
That’s why MakeParentingEasier was created—because parenting can be hard, but with the right support, it can be easier and more joyful.
makeparentingeasier.net 