“Hello, Meg. Are you OK? You sound winded.” Thankfully it was her best friend, Jennifer, on the phone.

Meg sat down on the side of her bed. “I know Jack is just three, but I don’t think I should let him tell me no or yell at me when I ask him to do things. What do you think?” Meg trusted Jennifer’s advice.

“I think God has entrusted you with a strong-willed child,” answered Jennifer with a chuckle. “But you’re doing the right thing by insisting that Jack learn to obey. You’ll just have to be consistent and stay on top of things.”

“That’s what I was afraid of,” moaned Meg. “This is wearing me out.”

“Hang in there. You’re a good mom,” said Jennifer. “Meanwhile, let’s plan a girls’ night out sometime soon so you can refortify!”

While we’ve all heard that parenting isn’t for cowards, some of us are called to be braver and more fortified than others. Children come with myriad dispositions, and the strong-willed child will push any mother to her limits. But while God may allow your child to stretch you, He will not leave you without resources.

Proverbs 19:18 encourages, “Discipline your son while there is hope.” The parent of the strong-willed child needs to be aware that every parenting moment counts, communicating to your child who is in charge and setting the tone for the remaining child-rearing years. If you are parenting a high-spirited child, pray for wisdom, grace, and fortitude, and commit to consistency. Remember, God has chosen you to train up this child, and He doesn’t make mistakes.