I remember when my pre-verbal son first realized that I was giving him a choice between two options. The light came on in his eyes, he got the biggest smile you've ever seen, then after briefly considering the options grabbed wildly for his preferred choice. Just like that, "choice" was explicitly a part of the metaphysically given for him, even if it isn't always a choice between desirable options. Yes, there are days when I regret (if only for a minute) letting choice be a part of his awareness -- imagine, a world where kids eat *only* what is put in front of them, wear *only* the clothes you set out for them, and do *only* the things you've explicitly said they must do. ha! as if that would ever actually work as well as in my imagination!
EDIT: I wrote this about 9 years ago. Somehow it never posted, but is a fun memory so I'm putting it out there. My son started high school this year. Choice is still a problem, but now in different ways. It is never easy to stand by and watch your children make "the wrong" choice, and even sometimes hard watching them make "the right" choice. Choose, they must.
EDIT: I wrote this about 9 years ago. Somehow it never posted, but is a fun memory so I'm putting it out there. My son started high school this year. Choice is still a problem, but now in different ways. It is never easy to stand by and watch your children make "the wrong" choice, and even sometimes hard watching them make "the right" choice. Choose, they must.
