My Strong-Willed Child

What? Are any of you surprised that Brad and myself would create a child that wasn't a type A, stubborn, independent, fiery little ball of fun? Well, I have to say that as much as I expected it, I didn't realize that it would be this hard.

He is stubborn.

He is lovable.

He is independent.

He is funny.

He likes things to be just so.

He is helpful.

He loves more deeply than most children I have encountered and he argues more passionately than ANY child I have ever met.

But as hard as he is to tolerate....and yes I said tolerate, he is my amazing, wonderful, exhausting, precious child and I could not imagine one minute without him in our lives.

Lately I have been reading The Strong Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson because there are some days when I lay down at night to go to sleep and all I can think about is did I do enough for him today, am I molding him to be a kind person, a humble person, a person who loves Jesus and loves others with all his heart, a person who is responsible for his own choices and actions, a person who feels loved unconditionally and affirmed? Am I doing enough for him? And the answer is not always, I am not always the best mother that I could be and that answer is just not good enough.

But I am trying to learn how to love, discipline and respect this crazy, highly opinionated, strong willed child of mine that God blessed me with. I am learning how to shape his will, rather than break his will and it is not an easy job. More than anything I am on my knees asking for guidance when it comes to the daily battles of life.

Braden Wright Hoffman- even when you make my mornings stressful, my days very eventful and at times my evenings positively dreadful, you are still my amazing, beautiful, strong child and I love you more than life.