KnittingHappy

I've run out of tools in my toolbox with Landon before and resorted to spanking (3 times in his life). Strong-willed doesn't even begin to describe this boy. The only thing that spanking accomplished was to turn him violent. I spanked and he turned around and attacked me. I'm glad I don't bruise, because I would've been black and blue. I absolutely cannot parent punitively if I want to make any head-way with him. The more gentle I am and the more I can remain calm the better we both act. I'm the adult, it is up to me to maintain the atmosphere of our house. If I lose it, he will lose it brilliantly.

Yes, there are things that punitive parents will see as me letting him have his way or letting him "get away" with things. Those are just not hills I'm willing to die on. On those hills that it is necessary to take a stand, I do. I just try to do it in a way that respects him as a human instead of a second-class citizen simply because he is a child.

It is hard to parent a strong-willed child, but I think doing it gently is extra hard because of the outside pressure. I still have trouble ignoring that and tuning out what other people think.