Spirited Children.

I once had a Bible Study leader confess that one of her children was more sensitive than her others. She realized later she and her husband could've done a better job understanding how to parent her better.

At that time I only had one baby - Natalie - who was about 15 months old. I asked the leader how to tell if a kid was more sensitive.... she said I would just know.

She was right.

I recently read the book Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. It's a book about raising your spirited child.

Okay, in all seriousness, it's a book about raising children who are "more intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent and energetic." I might have a few of those. Two to be exact. I'll leave you guessing which ones.

Here are some things to describe this type of child:

adverse to change

adverse to new environments

adverse to textures

adverse to new foods

adverse...... ha!

A child who obsesses... like won't take no for an answer. Who needs transitions between activities. Who without them breaks into a temper tantrum when you try to pull them away without warning.

A child who doesn't have a volume button - you're constantly telling them to lower their voice. A child who makes noise - talking, singing, etc. - even when spending time alone.

I know what some people are thinking.... that this sounds like a spoiled brat. Sounds like a kid who needs a consistent disciplinarian for a parent.

Kurcinka suggests instead some ways to lay down the law while helping these children recognize their own behavior and modify it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's parenting a child who fits this description or perhaps is married to one. I recommended the book to Henry right away.