Before my kids were born I had thought out my parenting strategy. Being a “spirited” child, I had this idea that as a parent if I could be open and my child knew their opinions mattered then the rest would fall into place. We may not agree but you’ll always have a voice and I’ll listen. We all want to feel understood. Although my strategy was a solid one. I forgot the one thing that I wanted more than anything as a kid which was to be seen as an independent person separate