Do you have a wild child at home?

Do you have a wild child?  I sure do!  Our middle child is by nature a wild child.  I wouldn’t necessarily call him a difficult child to parent, but it definitely takes a little more patience and adjustment compared to his older brother and younger sister.  Instead of trying to get him to change, I  embrace his “wild” personality.

Embrace their enthusiasm

My son, who is 7,  wants to do everything.  When he decided that being a rock star looked like a lot of  fun, he learned, and continues to learn, to play the guitar.  

His current dream is to be a skateboarder.  He constantly watches YouTube videos to learn the skateboarding tricks and then dedicates his free time to mastering those tricks.  I love that he is excited about doing those unique and diverse things.

Embrace their bravery  

Wild children tend to be more out going and make friends with everyone and anyone.  We will be at a baseball tournament all weekend and my son, that isn’t playing, will meet kids in the same boat and strike up an instant friendship.  And, by the end of the day, is talking about a sleep over at the kid’s house who lives an hour away.  

Not the least bit shy or timid, my wild child squeezes every ounce out of life and never wants for courage.  I can’t imagine doing that as an adult, since walking into a party where I don’t know many people intimidates me.   This is a great personality trait to have…the courage to embrace the unknown.

Embrace their energy

I get tired just watching my son.  It’s exhausting.  I’ve embraced that he can go and go and go.  We’ve put him activities that complement this, wrestling and football.  Swimming would great too.

Embrace their free nature

I try and teach my kids that it’s doesn’t matter what people think of you.  A neighbor’s child told my older son that his new haircut made him look like a girl.  He was very upset and was trying to brush it in different ways.  My “wild” child would have walked away or told him to be quiet.  

I love the fact that he lives his life the way he wants to live it and he’s not scared to be himself.  I try to convince him that he needs to wear nicer pants to church, but he always tells me that it’s not “his style” and God is just happy he’s there.