by Sarah Seigand

The name of my oldest son, Judah, means, “Praise the Lord.” It also bears the imagery of a lion as Jesus is referred to as the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” Little did we know how fitting that name would be.

One afternoon with our Judah and just about anyone will pick up on his intense personality. From the first moment he tried baby food, to his first touchdown on a football team, every emotion—good or bad—would be written all over his face and expressed fully in as many words possible. That means he’s delightful and joyful, but he also struggles with anger and explosive reactions. Let me tell you how much fun THAT was when he was two.

I could tell early on Judah would fit the description of a “strong-willed child.” I had a very wise and seasoned mom encourage me one day when I hit a Mommy-low-point (you know, the kind where you amaze yourself with your own sinful reactions). This veteran mom said, “Strong-willed kids have a way of making you feel like a failure as a parent.” That may not sound like encouragement to you, but it was to me! I hadn’t pinpointed what was upsetting me (other than his behavior), but she was right… it was my own feelings of failure that really had me on the ropes, ready to give up. I was normal! What a relief. Read more