I am a believer in the old adage don't sweat the small stuff.  It has worked for me for many years, especially when dealing with toddlers.  You want to wear your pajamas to the grocery store ?  Small stuff, go right ahead and wear them.  You think plaid, polka dots and stripes are a good look ?  Have at it my dear, just get in the car so your brother isn't late for school.  Letting little things go makes life easier.

My kids aren't toddlers anymore.  They are thirteen, eleven and nine.  I am having trouble deciding what is small stuff any more.  You don't want to wear a coat ?  You think a hoodie is warm enough ?  Well, it is nineteen degrees out and I don't think a hoodie is warm enough.  Is this small stuff or the stuff hypothermia is made of ?

Nobody wears a dress coat ?  Really, well nobody isn't my child !  For mass on Christmas Eve, the beautiful black wool dress coat that you  picked out should get hauled out and worn over the pretty dress that we finally agreed on.

When does small stuff become stuff worth fighting for ?  When I say fighting for, those of you with teens and tweens know I mean fighting about.  I firmly requested my daughter wear the above mentioned dress coat to church. Something to the affect of, "Please wear your dress coat.  It is Christmas Eve and that's what you wear over a dress." When we arrive at church, I see my daughter climbing out of the car wearing her pink ski coat over her holiday dress.  Now we have defiance. At least that's how I saw it. I asked/told her to do something.  She didn't want to do what I asked, so she snuck the coat she wanted to wear into the car.  Once we were there, there was nothing I could do about it.

So when does small stuff become big stuff ?  When do you stop picking your battles and start putting your foot down ?  Where is the line between non compliance and not sweating the small stuff ?