Parenting a child with special needs can be perplexing and overwhelming journey which requires parents to make choices in unfamiliar territory. The manner in which parents make choices for their children establishes a model and sets a tone for what they expect their children to learn as well as what we expect of the people who serve their children. In this article, the two aspects to the choices that parents make--pragmatic and emotional--are discussed. These two aspects stem from the different roles parents play in the lives of their children. Consideration of maximum benefit vs. minimum risk, turning a negative into a positive, and the LDA when making pragmatic choices can help develop optimal levels of self-determination, independence, and self-advocacy for their children. The emotional side of choice-making, by necessity, requires that they balance the needs of a specific situation (such as a cognitive assessment) with the needs they face in all parts of their lives. Choice-making can feel overwhelming, yet this process can strengthen and advance their abilities to be strong advocates and effective parents. (Contains 2 tables.) [For Part I, see EJ768221.]