Decision Making in an Era of Too Many Choices

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We know that planning a family vacation when you have to satisfy several peoples' needs and worry about a budget, convenience, and good value can be stressful... if not totally overwhelming. This guest post from Jean Blackmer, author of MomSense: A Common-Sense Guide to Confident Mothering (and other books), deals with just this issue in daily life.
I stood in the produce section of the grocery store looking at the variety of peppers. I picked up a green one, examined it for brown spots and gave it a gentle squeeze to make sure it wasn't mushy. It felt solid so I put it in my cart and imagined howI might actually get my kids to eat something green other than a gummy worm.  Then I noticed the red, yellow and even orange peppers. Maybe I should buy one of each? I wondered. As I scanned the produce section I noticed another area where more peppers were displayed like colorful crayons - the organic section. Maybe I should buyorganic? I wondered for the millionth time. Could buying a pepper really become such a time-consuming, mind boggling decision? In our world today? Yes.A paradox exists: we are fortunate to have so many choices, but this often causes difficulty in decision-making and may lead to regret with decisions. In the book Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, author Barry Schwartz builds a convincing case of howour culture of abundance robs us of satisfaction. "As the number of choices we face increases, freedom of choice eventually becomes a tyranny of choice. Routine decisions take so much time and attention that it becomes difficult to get through the day." A mom's day is already difficult enough, dealing with toddler meltdowns, sleep issues, food choices, sibling squabbling and (fill in the blank) ____________. How can a mama be confident in her decision making on these issues and so much more, and not get bogged down in the process? Here are some ideas:•       Decide what really matters. For example, if how to get your baby to sleep matters more to you than what type of applesauce to purchase then you'll spend more time and energy on the sleep solutions.•       Limit your choices. Limit yourself to looking at three different stores, ask only three different people you respect for advice, and visit only three reputable online sites for ideas on the decision you're dealing with.•       Don't compare your decisions to others. Each mom is as unique as her own finger print. What you decide may be different than your mother, sister or friend and that's ok. Trust you've made the right decision for your unique situation.•       Once you make a decision- decide to move on. Don't allow yourself to second guess your decision.  We all make mistakes and actually can learn from them. As moms we make practically as many decisions in a day as we take breaths, not only for ourselves but for our children too. Becoming confident in our decisions will help the whole family because confidence is contagious. "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly and believingly, without a second thought." James 1:5-6
Jean Blackmer is also Publishing Manager for MOPS International, Mothers of Preschoolers and lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband, Zane, and their three sons.

Families of Athletes Find Home at London Olympics

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Procter & Gamble (P&G), a Worldwide Olympic Partner for this year's London Olympics, and the company behind such household brands such as Tide, Pampers and Gillette, has opened up their P&G Pavilion to the moms and families of Olympic athletes. As the company's campaign reiterates, to their Moms, these athletes will always be kids.  And they want to support them.


During the Games, the pavilion will be a place to relax, unwind and be together, allowing the families of more than 10,000 Olympians from around the world to connect with each other.

Having a Place to Call Your Own during the Olympics

"We asked athletes what we could do to support them here in London and they told us that Moms and families from around the world don’t have a place to really relax and be together at the Games," said Marc Pritchard, P&G’s Global Brand Building Officer. "We have been in the business of serving moms and families for 175 years. So it makes sense for us to celebrate the athletes by serving their moms and families."

The "P&G Family Home" has been designed to offer the comforts of home, taking advantage of the company's many products. Families can choose wellness treatments with Cover Girl and Olay products, a toddler playroom hosted by Pampers, and even a Tide-rinsed laundry service.

Additionally, the P&G Family Home is a communal place for watching the many rounds of Olympic competition, enjoy meals and logon with WiFi to stay in touch with family members who stayed at home.

Moms Appreciate Their "Home Away from Home" 

"In Beijing, we had a great time, but sometimes struggled to find a place for a quick meal and to meet up with the families of other athletes competing," said Ileana Lochte, mother to Team USA’s Ryan Lochte. "The P&G Family Home provides both of these resources, and I’m looking forward to getting to know moms whose kids compete in other sports and come from other countries."

"Thanks to P&G we are able to come to London and to enjoy these Olympic Games," said Ana Cristina Rodrigues Da Silva, mother to Team Brasilia’s Felipe Franca. "I can focus on supporting my son, and other mothers can do the same for their children when they compete. I’m very much looking forward to my time here in London, both to see my son compete and because my country will play host to the next Olympic Games."

"It means a great to deal to me to have a base in London," said Gao Xiuyu, mother to Team China’s Lin Dan. "It’s my first time here and I like knowing that there’s a place in the city where I can get together with other moms from around the world, because of P&G."


"I will appreciate having a home-away-from-home where I can relax, meet other families and hear about their experiences," said Lisbeth Matlou, mother to Team South Africa’s Noko Matlou. "The P&G Family Home provides me with what I need, so that I can be there for my child, cheering her on as she competes."

"Every mom knows that encouraging your kids to play sports is not just about raising champions," said Carol Hoy, mother to Team GB’s Sir Chris Hoy. "I was proud of Chris when he was a little boy winning the egg-and-spoon race, and I’m proud of him now as an Olympian. Thanks to P&G, I’ll be there to cheer him on in the Velodrome, and visit him in the P&G Family Home."

The "Thank You Mom" campaign is being brought to life across all media channels. Selling to more than 4.4 billion people around the world, P&G will also host an in-store retailer program of Olympic Games-themed P&G branded products through August.

And if you needed to show them more gratitude:  As part of the campaign, P&G has also committed to raise $5 million to support local youth sports programs through a portion of sales and donations.

Free Italy Farmstays this September: Agriturismo for Kids

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Sept. 2-9, 2012 - The Children's Week

Choose from 50 agriturismi or farmstays throughout Italy and treat your children to an edu-cation vacation around nature and animals.

The Children’s Week is a yearly event dedicated to children aged 0-10, where they will spend time in a family atmosphere, surrounded by nature, while they enjoy healthy food and plenty of activities designed especially for them!

If you're planning an early-fall trip to Italy, you can consider adding to your itinerary at least a couple of days in one of the best designed for children farmhouses in Italy from September 2 to September 9, 2012.

Choose an Agritourism Farmstay for The Children's Week

The deal includes a free stay for all children aged 0 to 10 accompanied by a paying adult with a minimum stay of 2 nights and maximum of 6 nights. In addition, each agriturisms will be organising special activities for children during the week-long event.

If you can't make it to Italy this fall, check out these other options for farmstays around the world.