I had been having some issues with my internet connection some time ago so I called the telephone company’s help number. I was directed to a person who was quite likely from another Country as he had a thick accent. I could easily make out what he was saying and so we systematically worked the problem over. He started by asking me to make sure the modem had power. Yup, sure does, the light is on. He asked me to resent it so we did. He asked me to try again, but still no connection. He asked me to type into my e-mail account to make double sure it wasn’t working. Still nothing. He then asked me to pull the wires out of the modem and put them back in and do the same where they connected to my computer. Still nothing. We then went into the system software and he asked me to try to connect and read the error message. Still nothing that helped so he asked me to do some technical switches. Still nothing helped. He then asked if we had another computer in the house, we did – my wife’s laptop. It connected fine. He thought that was interesting, so he had me pull the cable out and connect it to my computer. It worked just fine! Interesting he thought. He then deduced that I needed a new cable – nothing further than this! After all that, it was nothing on his end at all, but rather a simple solution that I overlooked – and one he didn’t immediately cross off either.
This same problem solving carries across your entire life. Instead of making a big deal about an issue, check off the easy fixes first. For example, if something electronic isn’t working, make sure the unit is getting power. Simple! That’s a start anyway and something that is very easy to check. If your television is broken, you don’t want to start by pulling it all apart and dissecting it. The power loss is the most probable problem notably because it’s the simplest. So the lesson here is to always check the simplest explanations first as they are the most probable, then go deeper and deeper. What my technician might have asked is if I had done any recent changes. I had, I swapped in the cable not long before, and it worked, albeit intermittently.
Apply this principle to parenthood and you’re going to do well. Take my example. For a time, Holden wasn’t eating his veggies. He was habitually eating them last. My conclusion was that he was picking over his most favourite foods first and wasn’t hungry for what was left – the veggies. This is when we reduced all of his portion sizes. He started to eat his veggies, but would stop part way. Then I asked him if he wanted them heated up and he did. From then on, he would finish most of his veggies. The problem was nothing more than he didn’t like them cold. Some toddlers might only eat veggies if they are given first before any other foods. Some toddlers will want butter or spice on their veggies. Think simple, don’t just assume that your toddler doesn’t like veggies or he’s allergic to them. Start with the simple stuff first, then go deeper until your figure out what the real issue is.