Benjamin Manley on Unsplash

From the moment your child is born, you are instilled with a certain sense of responsibility. Not only must you ensure that you provide them with the love, care and support they need to grow and develop - you also need to begin making decisions that affect multiple people as opposed to yourself. 

As a result, you may find it much harder than usual to make difficult decisions - after all, the repercussion can now be far-reaching. However, when this is the case, it is important you trust in yourself, your knowledge and your instincts. As a parent, you will always know what is best for your children - and you can use this knowledge to make difficult decisions much easier and more straightforward than they may seem.

Nevertheless, certain topics definitely require more thought than others. For example, if you and your partner no longer want any more children, you may be discussing different birth control options or considering solutions such as a vasectomy or tubal ligation. These are big decisions that shouldn’t be taken lightly and require a lot of care, sensitivity and thought ahead of time. 

With that in mind, here are some ways in which you can begin to make difficult decisions a little easier for everyone involved! 

Don’t rush the process. While some decisions may be time-sensitive (such as accepting a big job offer or moving house), others are not. Therefore, it is important that you do not rush unnecessarily into a decision, especially if it will have an impact on the family as a whole. Take your time to consider all options and the positive and negative aspects of each situation as it presents itself. 

Don’t sweat the small stuff. As a parent, you’ll always want to do what is best for your kids. Therefore, you may find yourself over-analysing certain situations or decision - even though they may be inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Therefore, it is vital that you learn not to get caught up on things that don’t matter. 

Be honest. As with any collective decision, everybody’s needs and best interests must be taken into consideration. For example, an exciting new job offer at a company you love may seem like a no brainer - but it may require you to move home or spend less time with your children. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good decision - you just need to ensure that the positives outweigh the negatives and that you are honest with yourself about what you want. If you are unhappy about a certain situation - don’t sit quietly - let your voice be heard.

Get everyone involved in the conversation. As they grow older, your children will begin to formulate their own thoughts and opinions and, as a result, deserve to be a part of meaningful conversations. While the ultimate decision will remain with yourself and your partner - sitting down and keeping your kids in the loop is a great way to teach them important skills in patience, communication and teamwork. This helps them overcome hurdles and grow into adulthood and beyond.