My Strong Willed Child

I am the proud parent of a strong willed child. A real one. Not a child that is simply hyped up on sugar or needs a nap - a real, honest to goodness strong willed child. When Mason was just a baby, he let us know that he intended to be in charge. We didn't pick up on the signs then, but as we look back - they were there. Blake would put him down for naps when he was very small, and Mason would ever so slightly move to a position indicating a decision HE was making - not one assigned to him. When he was three he told me that if things were going to work out between us, I was going to have to be more flexible (Thank you Incredibles). I bought James Dobson's book on the strong willed child. Mason promptly used it as a step to reach an item on the counter he'd been instructed not to touch.

Today we went to lunch with one of my dearest friends, Joyce. Mason was in another booth chatting up the people over the back side. I instructed him to get down. He knew better than to say the word "no", but he really didn't want to end his visit. So after thinking about it for a moment, he used sign language to sign the word "no" to me. We headed straight for the bathroom with Mason holding his bottom all the way. I'm surprised no one called the SRS. However - had they seen the whole scene unfold, they may have offered to hold Max for me while I dealt with Mason!

I realize that there are positives to having a strong willed child. He's less likely to bend to peer pressure, and he has incredible drive. I just hope we don't strangle him in the process. Parenting Mason is such a challenge. I go to bed exhausted every night, but if I give in - he wins. Maybe I should ask my mother-in-law, Sharon, for advice. When her strong willed son (not Blake! - his brother, Larry) wouldn't stay in his room at night, she simply sawed the door in half creating a dutch door. He was stuck inside and she could stop worrying about him escaping...at least for awhile!