‘There isn’t a passive bone in her body. I spend my days negotiating any given task. Everything is on her terms, her time, her agenda.’: Mom to strongwilled child urges ‘this is hard, but it is so worth it’

“There isn’t one passive bone in her body.

In fact, I spend most of my day negotiating why she needs to do any given task and she spends most of her day arguing or ignoring it.

I ask her not to do something and she has already figured out ten different ways that she can.

Each day is filled with big emotions.

When she is angry, you know it.

When she is happy, you know it.

She has absolutely no filter and says exactly what is on her mind.

Which has led to me having to bite my cheeks to suppress my laughter on more than one occasion.

Everything is on her terms, on her time, her agenda.

She does not care that she has an appointment in 10 minutes.

She will let you know when and if she is available.

Most nights after I put her to bed I plop down on the couch utterly and completely down to the bone exhausted.

Sometimes I wonder why she can’t be more agreeable.

Why things can’t be easier.

I keep clinging to the words of fellow mothers of strong-willed children who look back on it all and whisper, ‘I know this is hard now, but it is worth it.’

Deep down even on my most exhausting days I know I wouldn’t change her.

I won’t ask her to be anything other than what she is because I would miss out on all of her.

I would miss out on her big love, her loud joy, her mischievous grin.

I would miss out on her quick wit and her larger-than-life attitude.

I know that the world needs her fight, her vivacious spirit.

And one day when she is grown, I will catch sight of a mom struggling to keep her patience with her strong-willed child who will likely have their arms crossed, determination on their face, a hint of mischief in their eye.

I will place an encouraging hand on that mom’s shoulder and whisper

I know this is hard now, but it is worth it.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Tiffany Yoder. You can follow their journey on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from Tiffany here:

‘Bossy’ Little Girls Grow Up To Be Assertive Women Who Change The World

I Am Not The ‘Fun Parent,’ And I Never Will Be

‘You were the size of a poppy seed when I fell in love with you, barely a blip on the ultrasound screen. In an instant, I knew life would never be the same.’: Mom shares sweet ode to daughters

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