It's not about the pants.

I had one really good epiphany while parenting about ten years ago. I was trying to get my oldest, who was three at the time, dressed and out the door for preschool and he was not cooperating. He was on his bed in his Blue's Clue's undies crying, whining, and shaking his head while I frantically held up pant options.

"How about these? These? Why not these? Yesterday you loved these pants; they have Thomas the Tank Engine on them!" About the time I was ready to give him back, it dawned on me: this was not about the pants. I asked him if he needed a hug and he said yes so I gave him one. Then he got dressed and we went to school.

Sometimes what we think is the problem, isn't really the problem.