If you have to call it something, call it wildflower, call it earthy, call it maverick. Whatever, remember your child is a free spirit and needs your nurturing hand. Below are signs you are the parent of a nonconformist.
Their perseverance perseveres, and keeps right on persevering.
The spirited child wants what they want. And they are not shy about the when, how, and where of it.They are like The Little Engine That Could. Be soothed, dear parent, and remember that while their determination can be frustrating at time, it is a positive quality. They just might be someone that changes the world.
They don’t sleep like other kids.
If you’re raising a spirited child, chances are you probably haven’t had a full night’s sleep since they were born. This is because they are often awake in the middle of the night. You’ve tried different strategies to get them to settle, but nothing works because their will is stronger than their need for rest. They’re like tiny creatures of the night with an important agenda. Those legos aren’t going to build themselves, you know! Spirited children view 12-3 a.m. as a perfectly acceptable time for construction projects and plotting world domination.
Their emotions are large and in charge.
Spirited children have an innate ‘go big or go home’ approach to feelings. Downside: they might throw screaming tantrums until they’re hoarse, leaving you wishing you had a soundproof room in your home where you could curl up in the fetal position and rock back and forth. Upside: they express their joy and love with reckless abandon. They run to you gleefully when you arrive home, throw their tiny bodies across your legs when they want to cuddle, and give bear bugs without warning. They dance like nobody’s watching!
People have several theories about your child’s behavior.
Maybe they’re eating too much sugar. They act that way because they aren’t getting enough rest. They need more exercise. They need less stimulation. They need to play outside to burn off the extra energy. Have you eliminated harmful food dyes from their diet? What about television? On tablets too much? Have you tried timeouts? Have you tried sticker charts? How about healthy food rewards? Herbal remedies?
People have theories about your parenting style.
You need to just ignore their outbursts. You need to be more flexible. You need to practice relaxation exercises with them. You need to punish them. You’re approaching parenting the wrong way; here’s a book about how to do it. Or better yet, here’s how I do it because my kids are so serene and agreeable. Try positive/free range/attachment/authoritative/slow parenting instead of whatever it is you’re currently doing that’s wrong.
They want to do it all.
Brushing their teeth, putting on clothes. bathing, baking a cake, painting the shed, climbing a 16-foot ladder and cleaning the gutters on the house, changing the oil in the car, driving the car. Whatever the task, they are up to it! If you have a spirited child, they will want to do all of these things by themselves with no help from you whatsoever. Attempts to intervene are met with resistance because they believe they’re masters of every craft, and it’s their life’s mission to prove it. Their perseverance has perseverance, remember?
While life with a spirited child can be exhausting and frustrating at times, take solace in the fact that you are raising a person that is ready to take on anything life has to offer. They will never accept being put in “a box”. Perseverance, passion, and strong convictions are all positive qualities. The boundless cuddles and intense joy are also good perks.
Our mission at Five Star Montessori is to let these spirits soar and encourage their educational growth and preparation for their bright future. No one child is alike and we embrace that. For more information on our infant through Kindergarten Montessori programs visit us online or feel free to come in for a tour. We have two locations to serve you best, West Houston and in Katy. We look forward to meeting your family!