Raising a sensitive, spirited child can be both exhausting and rewarding. If this sounds familiar, your child might be right-brain dominant.
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I’ve already answered at least 50 questions from my daughter about our breakfast options and why she can’t have popsicles or ice cream for breakfast, even though we talked about this just yesterday.
Last night, I set out new crayons and a coloring book, hoping to catch her interest. However, she ignored them and started taking random items from the pantry for her latest “concoction, mom!” project. From the corner of my eye, I can see condiments scattered across the room.
Being a straightforward and logical person, I am mostly a left-brained thinker. This might be why I earned the nickname “the mom” in college. It’s also why my right-brain dominant, free-spirited child keeps me on my toes.
In countless situations, my independent and strong-willed child has challenged my logical mindset, turning my world upside down. Right-brained kids either see the world differently or seem like mischievous minions, constantly proving their parenting expert wrong. Although my internal “mom” might argue the latter, the child therapist in me recognizes the former as true.
Have you noticed one of your kids leaving a mess wherever they go? Right-brained kids are often extremely creative, resulting in epic messes. These children tend to play with toys in unconventional ways, creating intricate scenarios that leave behind heaps of random objects—the kind of pile you leave until the morning because sorting through it is overwhelming.
Do you find yourself frequently challenged by your child’s observations? You might say the sky is blue, only for them to remind you it turns orange, pink, and yellow at sunset. If you relate to this, you likely have a right-brained child at home. Despite being a knowledgeable and thoughtful parent, these kids don’t just accept what you say. Instead, they learn by exploring and observing the world for themselves.
Feeling like your home is a soap opera set? Buckle up for an emotional rollercoaster! Right-brained kids wear their hearts on their sleeves, feeling emotions intensely and expressing them just as dramatically. If you’re uncomfortable with emotions, watch out—your child can sense when you’re overwhelmed or frustrated, which can introduce anxiety and amplify their own emotions.
While these traits can be frustrating on tough days, leaving me feeling drained and defeated, on better days, I feel incredibly grateful to have such an out-of-the-box thinker who challenges me to see the world differently.
Deep down, I know these lessons are worth the hit to my parenting ego. By embracing this journey, you’ll discover valuable parenting insights, such as how to protect your child’s self-esteem, foster cooperation, teach essential life skills, and discipline without causing emotional harm.
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