I am an Enabler!

Friday I heard on the radio a story of a new York mother who let her 11 year old son ride home on the subway by himself. She got a lot of criticism and some applauding from mothers around the country. When I logged on to check my e-mail tonight her story popped up. When I first heard the story I thought just for a second about the situation. When I read it tonight I realized something. She had said that we are enabling our children. I completely agree with her. No not all parents are like myself, but there are a few. I recently went to a scrap booking crop night and at some point during the night my friend and I got on the subject of our children (isn't that what the subject always is?)..anyway she was telling me about how she had listened to Motivational Parenting c.d. from an LDS mother. It was about what children should be doing at certain ages to be able to gain self-confidence through learning to be independent. As my friend was telling me some of the things that she had heard I thought to myself..."wow, I am failing"...As I have thought about these things and after hearing about the New York mother's experience I have decided I really am enabling my kids. I think about the times I am in such a hurry to get somewhere that I tie their shoes...hence Gillyin will be 6 soon and she doesn't know yet how to tie her own shoes. Or that instead of sticking to my guns when we are in the store and not buying them that 5 dollar toy (that will just end up in the garbage tomorrow)...I end up buying it just so I can get through my shopping list without a fit being thrown. Or even cleaning up after my kids because I have already asked them 100 times to do it and I just can't take it anymore. So instead of having a mess and arguing I decide that I will just do it. What am I teaching my children? AHHHH! I think that so many of us lead such busy lives that it is easier for us to just do it ourselves. But all of a sudden I have realized how horrible that is. I need to make time and schedule my time better so that my children can learn do things themselves. The New York mom had said that her son was so proud that he was able to ride home all by himself on the subway...gaining that self-confidence through being independent. Not that I completely agree with the whole subway story, because that scares me, but the fact that it is soooooo IMPORTANT to instill independence and self-confidence in our children. I have got to get this parenting thing under control. So I guess that will be a goal of mine. Hopefully through a lot of prayer I can do it. From letting them dress them self to making sure that they know how to make a PB and J. It is time I let them start being more independent...I know everyone will benefit from it, right?