Children
who make decisions with intensity tend to be labeled “strong-willed.”
At the end of the day, their parents feel as if they’ve been engaged in
hand-to-hand combat—and that the child often wins at the parent’s
expense! Most parents consider a strong will a negative personality
trait because it often creates resistance and frustration in family
life. Yet, in reality, it’s the strong-willed kids who are often better
equipped to succeed, be creative, and face adversity.
Children
with strong wills have the potential to become the next generation of
leaders. They have their own ideas and plans. They know what they want.
They’re persistent, confident, passionate, and determined to succeed at
whatever they choose to do.
Leaders have an agenda, look for
ways to incorporate others into their plans, and have a high need for
control in life. Balanced with graciousness, leaders become treasures
because they make things happen, create organization out of chaos, and
motivate people to action.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to raise a
leader. These kids tend to have their own ways of doing things and like
to tell other people (including their parents) what to do. A strong will
keeps a child moving in a certain direction in spite of obstacles.
Often these children need bigger barriers or tighter limits to teach
them that those boundaries are firm.
Don’t be discouraged by the
effort it takes to teach a strong-willed child which limits not to
push. The strong-willed child accomplishes things in life, because the
roadblocks that might hold others back are no match for this kid’s
determination. Your job is to help him know the difference between
obstacles to overcome and limits to live within.
A strong will can be an asset… as long as the heart is in the right place.
This parenting tip comes from the book Parenting is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
Used by permission
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