It's WAY different being a parent than a teacher with a stubborn child. The kids you teach rarely have those moments engrained in your head of firsts and tomorrows and joys and disappointments. In other words, your kids have more power over your emotions as a parent. As well it should be.
And, much to the disagreement of the opinions that circle around me as we struggle (because we all have those opinions about what will make someone else's kid better behaved), I refuse to discipline in a way that's disrespectful or not at least somewhat logical. I'm not going to spank. I'm not going to spit back. I'm not going to leave him in his room all day without toys for eternity. But I will follow through and I will be consistent and I will try my hardest.
I'm stubborn too. So is Brian. We're both a different kind of stubborn and if left unchecked, can lead to bad things like lack of self-reflection, admitting fault, and the end of a marriage. Gulp. So, I check myself a lot. And I know it has some pretty severe repercussions, if used unwisely.
But it's also awesome. It helps me persevere and keep moving. It can keep me on that one last thread of hope in a situation that's almost hopeless. And ultimately, I'm glad Lucas is stubborn. My questioning, sometimes defiant nature and Brian's confident, boisterous arguing.
So. Much. Passion. In. This. Kid.
I can't think of two better parents to guide him. I can't think of two better parents to learn A LOT in the next 18 years about themselves.
