Oh No, My Child Is Just as Stubborn as I Am

The Tug-of-War with My Mini-Me

As I stared at my daughter, I felt as if her gaze could pierce right through me. That look was painfully intense, like daggers aimed straight for my heart. My adorable, sweet five-year-old had clearly decided to rebel against me. I found myself pleading with her, for what felt like the fourth hour, to please just finish her dinner.

“I don’t like it,” she protested through her tiny teeth, crossing her arms and kicking the table. She shot me another glare, her soft, bouncy curls bouncing with her indignation.

“Where could she have picked this up?” I thought, feeling exasperated. I mirrored her crossed arms and shot her a glare of my own. Then I couldn’t help but laugh. Here I was, losing a battle to a pint-sized version of myself. With a sigh, I walked over to the table and kissed the top of her still-pouting little head. Clearly, she inherited her stubbornness from the best.

We’ve all heard the warning: “Just wait until you have kids.” But I never imagined that my beautiful little bundle of joy would transform into this sassy diva just five years later. I thought children morphed into replicas of their parents in their thirties!

I noticed the striking resemblance between my kids and myself early on. Most days, it’s delightful; it’s like having a little built-in friend. But battling against your reflection can be just as maddening as it sounds.

Honestly, I was unsure about wanting kids until I met my husband. After that, I thought having a mini version of him running around would be fantastic. And lo and behold, that’s exactly what happened with our son. He’s a walking, talking, scaled-down version of my husband: kind, compassionate, and intelligent, but also a bit pessimistic and hard on himself. My daughter, on the other hand, is loving, sweet, dramatic, and willful. Both kids share a stubborn streak and have a natural sense of humor, likely inherited from both parents. It’s hard not to laugh (with them) when they’re trying to wiggle out of trouble.

Parenting is challenging enough, but it gets even trickier when you’re up against such strong personalities—especially when they remind you that you’re acting just like them. For example, I often raise my voice in stressful moments, yet I ask my kids not to do the same. And then they’ll point out my hypocrisy. But curiously, those moments often lead to silence.

While it hasn’t been easy, I’ve learned to pause and ask myself two important questions: What’s upsetting this child? And if I were in their shoes, what would I want? The flip side of facing a stubborn mini-me is that, if you’re self-aware, you know how to handle it.

I’ve realized that my son needs calm and quiet, like his father. He responds better to a soft voice and reassurance. As a child, I craved physical comfort; a hug or a warm blanket helped me when I was upset. When my daughter is in the midst of a tantrum, I wait for her to calm down before extending my arms for a hug. It’s almost funny how she shares that same need and runs to me for comfort.

Of course, just as I start to figure them out, the rules will change by their next birthdays. My friends have been kind enough to warn me about the pre-teen years that my son is about to enter. They chuckle, reminiscing about how they thought they had it tough before. “Bigger kids, bigger problems,” they say. “Oh, fantastic,” I reply, mentally preparing myself to ensure that the coffee supply never runs out.

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Summary: This article reflects on the challenges of parenting a stubborn child who mirrors their parent’s traits. It explores the humorous yet frustrating dynamics between parent and child, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and understanding each child’s unique needs.

Keyphrase: Stubborn Child Parenting

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