Mom explains why we should cherish strong-willed girls: 'We do not need any more broken girls'

Being a parent to strong-willed children can be difficult. The tantrums, meltdowns and stubbornness can become challenging for any parent. It can take an emotional, mental and even physical toll on the parent. While this can be a really difficult experience, one mom on TikTok wants other parents of strong-willed kids, especially daughters, to know that there is light at the end of this tunnel and that the final outcome makes this battle worthy, reported Scary Mommy.

Embroidery instructor, Hannah—who goes by @sherwoodforestcreations on TikTok—shared a story about her own strong-willed daughter who used to leave her in shambles. “This isn't going to be a post of me bashing my daughter, but she was extremely difficult,” Hannah said. “Between the ages of like one and a half to four, where anytime we went anywhere, it was meltdowns, temper tantrums at home, kicking, screaming, ‘I hate you, you're stupid.’ Just horrific behavior that I felt like was a reflection on me.”

Hannah revealed that her daughter’s meltdowns made her feel like she was failing as a parent and that there were days when she would cry herself to sleep, “I tried reading all of the different psychology books, all of the books on like difficult children and everything,” she shared. While Hannah wanted to be there for her daughter and try to mitigate some of the difficult-to-handle behavior, she knew that, deep down, her daughter’s spirit was coming up as bad behavior and it should not be broken. “I did not want to break her spirit because I knew that being strong-willed would be so beneficial to her as a woman. We do not need any more broken girls,” she said.

Now, at 6 years old, Hannah's daughter is thriving, and Hannah wants other parents to know that they will get past those days when they feel like they are not getting parenting right. "My daughter is six now and she just had her kindergarten parent-teacher conferences. And do you know what the first thing that came out of her teacher's mouth was? ‘Your daughter is a joy. She is kind. She is clever. She is smart. She is witty, and she is a leader,” Hannah said with tears in her eyes. “And I could not be more proud."

Hannah then explained that the spirit and unbreakable nature of an at-times obstinate, stubborn toddler will make for a strong adult. “Strong-willed toddlers make strong-willed girls make strong-willed women make strong-willed female leaders,” she concluded.

Many parents of strong-willed children thanked Hannah for her pep talk. “Strong-willed boy mom here,” @christina.hotaling wrote. “He was basically a terror from babyhood through toddlerhood. He’s 8 now, and his teachers say he’s an absolute pleasure to have in class.”

“My daughter is sooooooo strong-willed! Makes my heart happy knowing she’s gonna make it in this harsh world!” @calinchannelle commented.

Stand by your strong-willed child's side and be patient with them to maintain a healthier sense of self in them, which eventually will lead to a more fulfilling life!