I reflect on two major parenting regrets that have had significant consequences in our family: allowing excessive screen time and catering to picky eaters. These seemingly small concessions made during overwhelming parenting moments have created lasting challenges as my children have grown older.
• Started giving my son a tablet around age three despite knowing the potential harm
• Now seeing addiction-like behaviors when devices are taken away
• Children abandon social interaction when electronic devices are available
• Digital devices create dopamine releases that affect brain development
• Strongly advise parents of young children to avoid or severely limit screen time
• Catering to picky eating has resulted in extremely limited food preferences
• Found myself making multiple meals to accommodate different preferences
• Wish I had insisted children eat what was prepared for the whole family
• The "path of least resistance" created more difficult problems later
• Successfully prioritized open communication and age-appropriate explanations
• Use adult vocabulary and don't sugarcoat difficult conversations with children
• Important to give yourself grace while learning from mistakes
If you have young children, please learn from my experience - limit screen time and stand firm on family meals.
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