#thought I would share So, I just had a full on battle in the kitchen with my 14 month old. She…

#thought I would share

So, I just had a full on battle in the kitchen with my 14 month old. She wanted a bite of my chicken. Messy BBQ chicken. I offered her a bite but wouldn’t let her take it from me. I didn’t want her hands messy so I planned to put the bite directly into her mouth. She didn’t like that. She wanted to feed herself.

My sweet little 14 month old threw her tiny self down on the floor crying. Then she glared at me, stood up and reached her hand out to me…expecting to get her way.

I offered her a bite again…directly into her mouth. She declined and started the tantrum over again. She glared at me again, came back and extended her hand.

This happened over and over again for a good 4+ minutes before she came back, looked up at me and, instead of extending her hand, just opened her mouth.

I won. I will always win. She had at least 12 bites and let me put each one right into her mouth. Then she smiled and went on her way.

I have seen so many people posting things on facebook about their kids “not letting” them do something.

“He wouldn’t LET me put his shoes on him.” That kid is less than HALF your size! How is HE running the show?

“She REFUSED to come back inside.” You just LET her take the authority from you.

It seems like I see these posts EVERYWHERE. And, honestly, it riles me up a little bit.

I am by no means a perfect parent, but I know how stinking smart kids are. My 14 month old is smart enough to understand that, if I had given into her tantrum, she would be the winner. She would learn that throwing a fit gets her what she wants. She is also smart enough to realize that Mommy is in charge and Mommy does not lose these battles. Every time I win, she gets a little bit sweeter. And that is why I never lose.

It’s not easy. When Rachel was 2 years old I fought with her for over an hour one time before she gave in. But SHE GAVE IN.

I have people tell me all the time that my kids are “well behaved” and they “wish their kids listened” like mine do. My kids were not born well behaved. A LOT of work goes into that.

Don’t WISH for good Kids. RAISE good kids. Stop letting your kids run your house.

Rant over.