Why we should stop calling our kids 'stubborn'
When most of us start off as parents, we want CONTROL over our children. We want to be able to say something to our kids and just have them listen without complaint. We forget that they're their own people with their own developing minds and individualities, don't see things the way we do, and are entitled to their own opinions just as much as we're entitled to ours. They don't have the maturity or perspective to absorb/apply reason, care for consequences or understand why it's not okay to have another cookie or five more minutes in the park. They also lack the neurological makeup to control their impulses, regulate their emotions and adapt to not getting their way. When we so quickly pin them with a judgement of stubborn, we overlook the real reasons why they aren't ABLE to cooperate in the moment, and miss crucial opportunities to connect, see their side of things, understand their needs and empathize with their struggles. This doesn't mean we should alway...