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It's a typical Tuesday evening in my household, and I'm going toe to toe with my son over the math homework he still needs to finish. The TV is blaring in the background, and I'm desperately trying to convince him to turn it off and focus on his fractions. I know better, but I have a blind spot in that moment and my pleas fall on deaf ears. Before I know it, I'm trapped in a power struggle I dread more than math homework itself. 

Parenting. It's like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded, isn't it? Just when you think you've got it all figured out, bam! You find yourself smack dab in the middle of a power struggle with your kid, wondering how on earth you got there. Let's remove that blindfold so you can navigate that maze like a rat that smells cheese.  

Just as I'm about to throw in the towel and say "Fine, you win," I have a wake-up moment. I suddenly remember that I’m a parenting coach who specializes in raising strong-willed boys. Duh! I've literally written scripts for my clients to address this exact moment.

I know better than anyone how to sidestep a power struggle and connect with my son. So I whip out script #1 and watch as tensions ease. But before we continue this conversation, go support the sponsor we love today, here’s a quick ad for them.

The first script in my arsenal is what I like to call the "Yes Exactly Script." It goes a little something like this: "You want to keep watching TV, and you don't want to do your math homework." This simple acknowledgment lets my son know that I hear him and that I'm not here to attack or judge him. It's like extending an olive branch in the midst of battle – a gesture of goodwill that can go a long way with strong-willed boys. 

Next up is the "Legitimizing Script." By saying, "It makes a lot of sense that you would want to keep watching TV. After all, this show is really good and you want to know what happens next," I'm validating my son's point of view. It's like saying "I get it – TV is way more fun than fractions." This script helps bridge the gap between us and communicates you make sense to me.

But perhaps the most powerful script of all is the "Tell Me More Script." By saying, "Tell me more. What do you hate about math? Help me understand," I'm showing my son that he matters to me more than the homework. It's like shining a spotlight on his inner thoughts and emotions, inviting him to open up and share what's really going on in his head. 

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