All parents face resistance and struggles for power with their children. It all starts generally with the two-year-old and the frequent “no” and “mine” that we hear. Passive resistance in the form of ignoring our requests can also trigger power struggles. As frustrating as these situations can be, power struggles are not necessarily a sign of a troubled or defiant child or adolescent, as children often vie for power as a part of the developmental process. These struggles can intensify however, depending on the child’s temperament, activity level and the level of stress in the family. It is up to us as parents to learn to stay calm and creatively disengage from the struggle. If you have children, you know that there are many opportunities for power struggles. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent some of these from occurring.
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