Include them

There's an old saying that goes "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself".  That might be true but sometimes doing something yourself prevents someone else from learning how to do it.

I'm thinking specifically about all the activities we as moms plan and execute for our children...the perfect birthday party, the perfect Family Home Evening, the perfect dinner, the perfectly decorated bedroom.  We can do amazing things and have amazing results and we want the best for our kids but are we denying them the opportunity to be involved in the planning because things might not look as "pretty" if they do it? 

You might be surprised what they are capable of if given the chance.  Working with your children and letting them have a say in matters that pertain to them might yield different results than you envisioned but maybe even better.  They can be quite creative and imaginative.

So, let them decorate for their birthday party.  Let them occasionally be in charge of weekly Family Home Evening.  Give them an assignment for making the dessert.  Let them tell you their about their dream bedroom and help them make it a reality.

We don't have to be in control over everything.