Stress-Free Discipline

7

Attitude

There may be nothing as likely to push our hot buttons as a set of rolled eyes and a sassy retort of “Whatever!” from our offspring. It’s frustrating, maddening, exasperating, galling, vexing—you know what it feels like. But as obnoxious as it can be, it’s also completely normal behavior.

Attitude is a child’s way of starting to show independence. She isn’t ready to break off from parents in meaningful ways just yet, but she is asserting control over that which she has the means to control at this age: her tone of voice, her facial reactions, and her physical proximity to you.

So, she’ll pull her hand away when you’re walking across the street together. He’ll grumble under his breath in response to chores or corrections in behavior ...