Parenting a Strong Willed Child

Brent and I started a marriage class tonight at church called "Love and Respect". We both really liked the first session and I hope it will have a life-long impact on our marriage. The basic principle is that women need love and men need respect, and when women don't feel loved they act in a disrespectful way and when men feel disrespected they act in an unloving way. Our small group is all completing the class together, and I am really looking forward to it. Anyway, that is not the point of this post. During this 10 week class we will be taking Sydney to childcare there at the church at night, which is a first. Have I mentioned recently that Sydney still goes to bed every night by 7:30 pm and sleeps until 7:00 am? So I was a little nervous that she was going to be grumpy at church since she was going to be up at least an hour past her bedtime. Much to my relief, she was in a great mood and the teachers couldn't wait to tell me some of the funny things she did. Evidently, she is a little bossy (again- that ole' stinkin' Walker gene must be coming through ;) because I can't imagine where she gets that from!!) and had the teachers laughing all night telling the other 2 kids where to sit, play, change diapers, etc. I commented back "Yeah, I know I will have my hands full!" and the nursery worker said kind of seriously "Have you ever thought about reading Parenting the Strong Willed Child?" I cried in the car I was laughing so hard trying to tell Brent the story. I would say that is NOT a compliment to have the church nursery workers say! However, never one to pass up a self-help book, it has been added to my list of "need to read books". I am currently reading Shepherding a Child's Heart and I have on my night stand I Brake for Meltdowns: How to Handle the Most Exasperating Behavior of Your 2- to 5 year old. I posted a picture of "Sydney-rella" as we call her using her new vacuum from Aunt Jamie. I am afraid we are braking some child labor law because she is OBSESSED over vacuuming and sweeping and swiffering. We got in the car a few weeks again and she said one of her first real sentences "Sydney Daddy go vacuum?" because that is what she and Brent do daily now. I guess at least for now I can't use housework as punishment for a sassy attitude. Lord help me and stay tuned...