“Don’t lose sight of the incredible gift that you have in your SWK because this shift in perspective is worth its weight in gold. When you perceive your SWK from a positive viewpoint, you will be a better parent to your SWK. Period. Not always easy, I get that, really I do. However, it will be so beneficial to see your SWK through a positive lens every day.
Remember how I said that I like control, order, and all of that? I also like to follow rules. I like consistency, and I like congruency. These are all things about me that I’ve had to learn to surrender in dealing with my SWKs much of the time. Try as hard as I may, I can’t control my SWKs and I certainly can’t change them, but I can change the things about me that are only aggravated by the things that my SWKs do that are the opposite of these things. Change you. Change your need to control…you want to guide them not control them. Repeat with me…you want to guide them not control them. Good stuff right there. Repeat as often as necessary
So often as parents we feel that we are in a battle. It is us against them. However, we are not in battle, although our SWKs like to make us feel like we are in an all-out war almost every day. The thing is, battles need to have a winner and a loser. This is not so in parenting, especially in parenting a SWK. Before engaging in anything that resembles a fight of any kind, ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” Maybe a different question to ask would be, “Does this really matter?”
Love them unconditionally
We know that as parents we need to love our kids unconditionally, but this is especially true in the case of a SWK. They feel the tension, they feel the stress, they feel your frustration. As much as they like to know that they are controlling you in regards to those things, they don’t need to be wondering if you still love them in spite of it. Make sure they know that they are loved.
Parenting a strong willed kid can be a challenge, but it can also be an incredible gift. Keeping a few things in mind, having a fresh perspective, and knowing a few tricks to keep up your sleeve can help you navigate the tumultuous waters just a bit, making them a bit smoother. It will be so worth it!"
Also Remember YOUR CHILD IS A PRECIOUS GIFT and somedays you will scream, you will say things you wish you could take back, you will be a "bad mom". It's ok, we all have our days and our tank runs on E way longer than it should. Know that there are other mamas out there struggling as well and beating themselves up for being that "bad mom" when really they are a great mom who has given so much and keeps giving no matter her level of exhaustion. We sacrifice our lives for our kids and that makes us AWESOME moms. Don't beat yourself up. I had this "bad mom" day just last week. A few choice words were said in my head and slipped out my mouth a few times. I had hit rock bottom. My husband came to the rescue and let me have an afternoon off which was very refreshing and so beyond needed. Being a SAHM means you get no days off though, no weekends off, and even your "off afternoons" aren't really off because, lets face it we still get calls and texts and we also wonder how they are surviving. It's a 24/7, 365 job through good days and hard days. But the job is so rewarding and to be able to watch and raise our legacies is absolutely a blessing! Just remember you are doing your best and its a "learn as you go" job. No mom is perfect, but you are perfectly placed in your child's life by God to guide and direct them. God is not only using you to shape them but He is using them to shape you as well. ;-)
