Giving up my imaginary kid

I found myself very discouraged the other day. Defeated by parenting challenges with one of my kids. The day had been one in a string of frustrating days with this particular kid — in a string of similar weeks. Again. So deflated was I that I actually went online to try drumming up a little insight. I've read dozens of parenting books and posts; too many, probably. But I thought: Just one new perspective-filled tidbit would help. "Strong-willed child discouraged," I told Google. Google failed

I found myself very discouraged the other day. Defeated by parenting challenges with one of my kids. The day had been one in a string of frustrating days with this particular kid — in a string of similar weeks. Again. So deflated was I that I actually went online to try drumming up a little insight. I've read dozens of parenting books and posts; too many, probably. But I thought: Just one new perspective-filled tidbit would help. "Strong-willed child discouraged," I told Google. Google failed me…