Strong Willed Child

I have one of these. A strong willed child. She is beautiful, she is sweet, she is adventerous, and she wants what she wants when she wants it.

L has an opinion about everything and her opinion is ALWAYS RIGHT. She likes certain cups to drink out of, she likes just the right amount of milk in her cereal. She doesn't like to brush her hair (except today when she wanted ponytails!), she doesn't like to wear socks with her tennis shoes. Oh, and she still wants her cassie (pacifier)! This, at 3 years old.

Lance and I have struggled a bit with our strong-willed child. We are both first-born types who always wanted parental approval and tried our best to behave. I think Lance succeeded better than I! N, our eldest child, has always been a pretty happy-go-lucky type kid. He might get mad about something, but it doesn't last long and he's pretty easy to redirect. Not L! She is our challenge!

She always wants to eat the minute we walk in our house - no matter the time! She loves to take bubble baths in our master bathroom with the water right up to the edge of the tub. She likes to tattoo herself with chalk and water everyday! And you know what?!?!? We love her. I love her to pieces - she is my darling gal even when she is driving me crazy, b/c you know sometimes she just does. I know, I know, a mother should never admit this, but I will. Sometimes I just don't know what to do for L. I want to make her life easier and happier, and I just can't sometimes. When she gets her mind stuck on something, she won't let it go!

So, I'm choosing to think, this could be a very powerful and great attribute to possess in her teenage years. Boys - no! Drugs - no! At least this is my prayer for her. That she would be strong-willed in all the "right" areas. Her momma is pretty "strong-willed" too and it has kept me out of alot of trouble, although I do think it has brought me some trouble as well. But, all in all, I'd rather have a daughter that is strong-willed and won't let people push her around than one that is easily influenced and convinced to do things that aren't right.

So, if you see Lance and I looking a little ragged, a little stressed, or with a few more wrinkles or gray hair, it's probably because we're wrangling with our "strong-willed" darling! We wouldn't trade it for the world. And, plus we're probably learning something, right?!?