“Everything is a battle and we can’t stand it any more.” These
are the first words spoken by Sylvia, mother of two, and her
husband quickly agreed. “We can’t get the kids to school on
time, get them to turn off their electronic devices, do their
homework, or go to bed without resistance and stalling. Can you
help us?” If this sounds like your house, there is light at the
end of the tunnel. And the answer does not have to involve
spanking, shouting, nagging, criticizing or coercing. Although
power struggles between parents and their children are
exceedingly normal–especially in adolescence–they should not be
the norm of everyday life. What’s a parent to do and why do we
get into power struggles in the first place? Starting around the
age of two, children demonstrate their desire for increased
independence by discovering the power of the word “NO!” and
“mine”. Toddlers have a strong desire to figure things out for
themselves, and when they succeed, they gain a sense of self-
confidence and self-control. This sta