Dear Dr. Meg:

Can you give me some tips on dealing with my strong-willed, often stubborn son?

Thanks,

Josephine from Ohio

Dear Josephine:

I have a secret: I love strong-willed kids. I know that they drive their moms crazy, but I have the luxury of loving them. After all, I only have to stay in the same room with them 20 or 30 minutes at a time. But here’s why I find them fabulous: they’re going somewhere. These are the kids that are going to make a difference in the world one day. The trick for me is to make sure that their moms don’t kill them before they get there. So here are a few ways any mom can learn to make it:

Tip # 1.  Learn to channel their stubbornness. What makes these kids successful in the long run is their tenacity. So rather than hate it, embrace it. Don’t fight their stubbornness; learn to redirect it into a direction that works for them. The trouble for you comes when they fight you, so find things that they can do that will challenge their strong wills. Find games that make them work and give them a chance to…