Our Little "Spirited" Wonder

A recent conversation regarding Kylie left me with the suggestion to read "Raising Your Spirited Child" by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. My disclaimer is while I don't like to get sucked into the psychology of reading a bunch of books to raise kids (I think doing so overanalyzes parenting and boots common sense to the bottom of priorities), I may just have to indulge in this one. After looking at the author's page, I find the following:

"The word that distinguishes spirited children from other children is more. They are normal children who are more intense, persistent, sensitive, perceptive, and uncomfortable with change than other children. All children possess these characteristics, but spirited kids possess them with a depth and range not available to other children. Spirited kids are the Super Ball in a room full of rubber balls. Other kids bounce three feet off the ground. Every bounce for a spirited child hits the ceiling.

On the good days being the parent of a spirited child is astounding, dumbfounding, wonderful, funny, interesting, and interspersed with moments of brilliance. On the bad days being the parent of a spirited child is confusing, frustrating, taxing, challenging, and guilt inducing. You may wonder if you are the only parent with a kid like this, scared of what is to come in the teen years if you don’t figure out what to do now, in the early years."

WOW, could this describe Kylie and our lives any better? Nope. So....we got the book on CD and Jon suggested we listen to it during our 10 or so hours of driving this weekend. I'll let you know what wonderful wisdom we do (or don't) glean from listening. If Kylie stops screaming long enough:-)