Stubborn Kids: Bring out their best - and handle their worst

[Cheba_Mami]

actually this should be in the 'parents corner' as kids are not only a womans problem....

"From her earliest breaths, my daughter Alexis was a force to be reckoned with. As an infant, she shooed away the cereal spoon; as a toddler, she rebounded from her bed all night long. When she was in preschool, her teachers would tell us that her strong will made her a natural leader. "


Stubbornness also often comes with a steadfast ability to focus, and that can boost learning.

We thought of her more as a little dictator. Alexis had figured out the great secret of life: Nobody can force you to do anything you absolutely don't want to do.

Watching her unapologetically go after what she wanted always left me half mortified, half secretly impressed. My eagerness to please has sometimes made me cave when I shouldn't. Yup, that's me, serial yes-woman for every party sales rep who needs a patsy -- er, hostess. But Alexis can stand up for herself, a trait that will serve her well all through life.

Still, raising stubborn kids is tricky. It's up to you to show them they don't rule the world -- without teaching them to be wimps.

Bullheaded by nature?

Some kids seem to be born willful. Alexis certainly was: From Day One, she'd scream her little head off unless we toted her around in a baby carrier. Such resolve often doesn't soften, either. As demanding babies morph into toddlers, the "You can't make me!" factor surfaces. Of course, most kids this age are hardheaded. But what sets the genetically inflexible apart is the ferocity and persistence with which they do battle. Parenting.com: What a personality!

"When my oldest, Gabrielle, was a toddler, she'd occasionally put up a fuss about something. I would think, why are you being like this today?" says Erin Bailey of Germantown, Tennessee. "Then I'd realize it's just the age, we'd get through it, and the next day, she'd be fine. But when my son Mick was 3, every day was like that, over everything. He just didn't cave at all." I remember a doctor's appointment when Alexis was 4, when she dug in so hard, and for so long, she nearly made the doctor cry. We weren't even able to complete her physical that day and had to reschedule the appointment! She returned with her father instead of me -- that simple switch changed the dynamic and Alexis was OK.

The bright side of boldness

There are positives to kids' toughness. For instance, Mick Bailey isn't intimidated by older kids. On a visit to a children's museum when he was 3, Mick held his own with a bunch of rowdy grade-schoolers. "It didn't matter that the other kids there were bigger," says Bailey. "He took charge of everything he was playing with."

Stubbornness also often comes with a steadfast ability to focus, and that can boost learning. At age 5, Alexis, by sheer grit, taught herself to ride a two-wheeler -- in a single afternoon. And Bailey says that Mick was buttoning and zipping at a much younger age than his more laid-back older sister. "He was just more determined," she says.

Laurie Maniacci of Naperville, Illinois, says her daughter's strong temperament has helped her work out problems with other kids. Once, she was having a hard time with some boys who wouldn't let her play princess. Five-year-old Emily hung in there until she'd made her case for including princesses in the boys' game. "They soon saw things her way," says Maniacci. Such stick-to-itiveness has also turned Emily into a leader. "She rallied her friends to put on a play, and then directed them. It was amazing," says her mom.

Turning stubborn into strong-willed

There's a mighty fine line between being a leader and being bossy. And even on a good day, stubborn can be downright irritating. To tame your child's bossiness:

Let him be heard: Sometimes, plain old listening helps. Alexis was most likely to try throwing her weight around if she felt powerless, like when stuck on a play date with a child she didn't like. It's easy to forget that children -- especially stubborn ones -- can have strong preferences. While I was hardly ready to consult Alexis on all of life's decisions, giving her say in some matters -- like the right to nix a get-together before I summarily accepted -- made things easier on both of us. She saw that she needed to be respectful if she found herself in undesired company, but took comfort in knowing that she could speak her mind and be heard.

Such open communication has also worked for Maureen Trettel, a mom of seven in Milford, Massachusetts. One winter, her son Joseph, who was 7, wanted to slide on an ice patch near their house without a helmet. "He kept at me and at me. I wanted to yell 'Stop! You're driving me crazy,'" says Trettel. "But all he wanted was for me to listen," she says. Taking a minute to hear his argument -- "It's not as much fun with a helmet, and I don't go as fast!" -- quelled the fight. "After that, he didn't even care that the answer was still no," says Trettel. On the other hand, by listening, you may find a child's argument has merit. "If we have five more minutes on this puzzle, we can finish it!" is worthy of consideration, and your willingness to adjust is a lesson in compromise. Parenting.com: Raising a compassionate child

Teach her about give and take: Telling your child always to be the "good" kid -- the one who automatically hands over the swing if another child wants it -- can spark rebellion or send the message that constantly putting yourself second is the best way to go through life. Instead, kids need to understand that they may have to give up something they want to get something else they want -- and that being demanding can have consequences they won't like. If your child refuses to share her toys, for instance, point out that if she doesn't, her friend won't want to share her toys, either. But if they take turns playing with each toy, they'll both get to play with everything. At the playground, Erin Bailey would tell her son, "I know you want to be first to slide down the fire pole, but it's OK if Charlie is first sometimes. If he isn't, he might not want to play with you." Do this even with little kids, who may not seem old enough to get it: Better to prepare them for compromise than spring it on them at age 4. Parenting.com: Raising kids with the right values

Lead by example: While we'd like to think our kids are the only unreasonable ones in the family, there's some truth to the expression "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Perhaps stubbornness is genetic -- or your child is taking his cue from you. Too true, says Trettel, who admits she's found herself sparring with Joseph over inconsequential things -- like the precise time to take a shower. "I have a hard time not winning myself sometimes," she says. Maniacci agrees. "Emily's helped me acknowledge my own desire to control every little thing," she says. Try to curb your pigheaded tendencies, not just in your dealings with your child, but also with other adults. For instance, talking through disputes with your husband in front of your child -- "I want to go out to dinner, but you want to eat at home. Let's order in so we don't have to cook but can still stay here" -- shows your child that adults have to sacrifice, too. And if your child follows your lead, it'll be worth it. Parenting.com: Are you a good role model?

Treat a stubborn kid like any other kid: Despite all the best strategies, some days with a little mule can be pure endurance tests. If being understanding isn't working, don't hesitate to whip out the standard mom tools: --" the illusion of choice ("I can't make you go to sleep, but you have to stay in bed") -- " the "do-it-your-way" approach ("You can use as much soap as you want as long as you wash") Also be prepared to play the Mom card. A 3-year-old who throws a tantrum to get five more minutes at the playground, for instance, gets picked up and taken home. Parenting.com: Little kid, big temper

Parents tend to want their kids to toe the line, fit in, and be nice, but if you're constantly harping on your child about his stubborn streak, he'll start to think there's something wrong with him. That's why it's so important to accept your child for who he is. Don't try to beat this quality out of him, because it's just not going to work. Luckily, stubborn kids' rigidity usually changes on its own over time. That glimmer of silver lining you're seeing now -- the leadership, learning skills, and confidence -- will most likely amplify as your child gets older. I've seen proof of that in Alexis, who's now 16 and not the tyrant she used to be. She's more discriminating about what to fight for but still has enough gumption to stand up for herself. Recently, I overheard a couple of her friends pressuring her to dis a classmate. "I think she's really nice," Alexis told them flatly. End of discussion. Hearing her say that, without hesitation, without fear of being judged, was worth every exasperating standoff she and I have ever had

Stubborn Kids: Bring out their best -- and handle their worst - CNN.com

[Bent_Bladi]

Didn't read it all... but I know that every baby to be born in our family is stubborn as £$%^&* hell!!! The won't do anything unless they get paid!! (with candy of course... lol)

My sisters and I were stubborn babies, then in middle school - we kind of calmed down - but now it's flaring up again

[Cheba_Mami]

every kid is different and all should be brought up well. It is concerning to see how many kids are injured in some way and behave in a strange way. People should be aware (as always, as they did before) that children are the future. Teaching nothing and beating up kids does not help...

[Bent_Bladi]

true... but eventually kids are gonna get exposed to violence... or something really traumatizing... you can't live your life thinking that this is a wonderful world filled w/ butterflies and cotton candy... the sooner they realize this - the better they can adjust to the real world and live life to it's fullest... depressing, i know... but that's life *shrugs*

[Al-khiyal]

Raising a Self-Disciplined Child by Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein (U.S.A.)

Raising a Self-Disciplined Child by Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein (U.K.)

"New from the pioneers of the resilience movement, how to raise stronger, more self-sufficient children. Why are some kids out of control while others are able to keep it together? Who better to address the subject of self-discipline than two of the most respected, quoted and bestselling authorities on raising children? In doing their groundbreaking work on resilience in children, Dr. Brooks and Dr. Goldstein found that a lack of self-discipline is the root of many behavioural problems. Their engaging new book offers illuminating insights and point-by-point techniques to help parents interact with their children in a way that helps them control their impulses, complete tasks, interact with others and lead happier, more resilient and rewarding lives."

[Cheba_Mami]

Of course life isn't wonderful, that's the whole problem.
And kids suffering will become adults suffering.

i don't want to be completely negative, but life isn't easy at all. Not even in the parts where there is perfect healthcare and superb technology.

[nesreen]

My sister and I were raised by a single Mother in an Arab society , so our home was like a military Base (not kidding ) and mom was like an army General (an Algerian one ) no chance of rebellion or stubbornness. Mourahaqqa ? never been throught it

But she was a very loving mother . still is in her own strict way .

Al Hamdoolillah my children are Not stubborn (touch wood and thank Allah) at all , if there is the tiniest problem Hubby knows how to handle every situation , he is very good with the children and they seem to listen to him and follow his advice all the time
My kids have not been exposed to violence or anything bad so far , i blame my rural village that has 5 or 6 shops only (dont ask me how i ended up here long story ) . things re quiet , calm , people are nice and drive really well , and everyone is so polite to each other , people insist you go first eveywhere in shops , at intersections , et..... I m afraid my kids have been sheltered too much and do not know what the real world is all about . but we keep an eye on them at all time and we try to be there for them and dad keeps reminding them talking is the way forward in any situation , whatever the situation is .

Im not stubborn neither is hubby so we tend to show the kids that concessions are important and flexibility is better .