Raising A Strong-Willed Daughter

Are You Raising A Strong-Willed Daughter?

Last week my sister and I discussed the personalities of the five little divas in our family.

I don’t have just one strong-willed daughter. They are all strong-willed. There are five girls, ranging between the ages of 1-5. All five of them possess very strong personalities.

My oldest daughter is the oldest of her and her cousins. She is the, ahem, bossiest one of them all. Leadership skills. I am in the middle of reading a new book. In it, the antagonist describes her daughter as teetering on the edge of an adorable, obnoxious, bossy girl who will one day run small cooperation.

I chuckled out loud because, in my mind, I pictured my own five-year-old daughter.

She also teeters on the fine line between adorable and obnoxious. Maybe they all do a little bit. This, though, was a clear description of my girl. Assertive. Authoritative. Self-assured. This is how I would describe her.

My youngest daughter, who is 2, is extremely persistent.

She does not take no for an answer. She will ask me 20 straight minutes for a sucker. Even though I answered her no the first go around. She. Does. Not. Give. Up. Tenacious. Unrelenting. Insistent. That is how I would describe her.

The other three girls, my nieces, also have very strong personalities. Boisterous. Bold. Courageous. Fearless. Adamant. Determined. These words describe all five beautiful girls God has given us.

My sister noted that typically boys will be the ones with these personality traits.

But in our family, it is the other way around. Generally, she said, girls tend to be quiet, shy, and less assertive than our little divas. During this past week, I have thought considerably about this conversation. I was intrigued.

She wasn’t wrong. Sometimes when I am out and about, I get a raised eyebrow or a “why would a little girl be so loud, how appalling” look by passing strangers when my daughters dare be anything but quiet and timid.

I am never one to listen to people’s opinions, so their looks go unacknowledged by me. I have noticed little boys being just as rambunctious in public with little as a glance. Of course, it is no skin off my nose. Just an interesting observation. Read A Letter To My Strong-Willed Child.

Be proud of yourself.

That is what I want these five little darlings to understand while they grow up. You see, those words that I named earlier, I have heard them used in ways meant to be negative before, so much so that many people may think of a negative image right off the bat. Especially when it comes to a tenacious little girl or an insistent and assertive woman.

God made them exactly who He wants them to be.

Yes, there is a time and a place for rambunctious behavior. Yes, I believe women should come under the submission of their husbands, but that is often taken out of context, in my opinion. I do not believe girls and women are doormats. Meant only to be timid and quiet. Every girl is given a beautiful personality by the God who created them. He has given each of our five little one’s BIG personalities.

As their mother and aunt, it is not my job to squash their spirits and make them feel like their personalities are not as special as they are.

No one should make them feel that way. It is my fear that the world may one day try. My job is to nurture them to be exactly who they are. Let my voice be louder than the ones they hear outside these walls.

Show them and remind them that their boisterous, assertive, persistent behavior can be beautiful. It can be useful. It can be necessary. Can be exactly who God created them to be.

Strong women.

Women who speak their minds.

Go after what they want.

Women who are diligent, intelligent, and strong-willed.

And Women who do not allow others to walk over them are kind.

Women who aspire to change the world or love their families, because that will change the world too.

The women God created them to be.

Maybe you have a little girl in your life who is bossy, strong-willed, and tenacious.

Maybe they have a huge personality. If you are having difficulty understanding how to cultivate their personalities so that the positives of these traits shine through, remember it takes time. Consistency. Prayer. It will be worth it. We need strong-willed women who change the world one day.

“The goal with strong-willed children is to help reroute their will. These are spirited children who have a lot to offer the world because they are spunky.” – megmeekerMD.com
“Strong-willed children often grow into adults who become world leaders, world shapers, and world changers. Parenting them peacefully is not only possible, it’s imperative because sowing peace in their hearts now while they’re in our care will grow a future of peace later when the world is in their care.” l.R.Knost
“Strong-willed children become adults who change the world as long as we can hang on for the ride and resist the temptation to ‘tame’ the spirit out of them.”- www.sarahstogryn.com

Have a beautiful day!

Jenna Jury

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