Mom of four shares unusual take on raising her ‘hard child’ — and it resonates with many parents

Children have their own unique personalities. Some parents may struggle to view life from the fresh perspectives the little ones bring to the world and tend to label those they don’t understand as the “hard child.” However, a mom of four, Hannah Flint (@hannahflint_), shared her take on raising the hard child in her home with a positive outlook on the kid’s strong character. Showcasing her baby girl in her element, the TikTok mom successfully conveyed her message, causing a shift in the community of parents with the life lesson. The video also resonated with many adults who were apparently the “hard” kids in their childhood. 

In an emotional clip, the mom compiled rare moments of her daughter taking on the world in her own way. “This is our ‘hard’ child…,” an overlay note on the clip hinted. The daughter cried, laughed, played, and enjoyed having challenges by herself. While she lived unapologetically, her mother’s perspective on the “hard child” changed. She now viewed her daughter’s difficult ways as a subtext for her bold and resilient personality. The TikTok mom encouraged the theory by issuing a contrast of the labels on her daughter, going from the “doesn’t listen” child and the “do it myself” child to the “resilient” and “fearless” child. 

She also marked her little daughter’s other special traits, such as her adventurous side, good sense of humor, and outspokenness. “So, just in case you need a reminder on those hard days, the ‘hard’ ones are the ones who will change the world,” concluded the viral snippet with 836,000 likes. Meanwhile, Flint penned a candid note in the caption expressing the highs and lows of raising the “hard child”. “Trying to see the world through her eyes is a struggle some days, and often makes me feel like I’m parenting all wrong. But reminding myself of all the good that she is always doing helps,” the caption added. 

The wholesome parenting advice was a hit among viewers as people expressed their honest thoughts about being or raising the “hard child” in the comments. “I was the hard child. I’m outspoken, passionate, and empathetic. My daughter is just like me. It’s hard, but I know she’ll do great things,” wrote a fellow mom (@tory311208), and @kaylagallion marked, “Love the perspective. I will think of this when I’m having a hard time with my baby girl!” @melinarenae honestly expressed, “My mom suppressed my personality growing up because I was too loud and free-spirited. They said it scared them. Now, as an adult, I have lost myself.”

According to a longitudinal study by Harvard University published in the journal American Psychological Association, it was found that an infant’s temperament in childhood is often a strong indicator of their behavior in adolescence and later in life. However, the “difficult” baby does not guarantee difficult times for parents raising them, because care and attention from guardians, teachers, and parents can help shape the child’s personality over time. Nancy Snidman, PhD, who is the director of the child development unit in psychology at the University of Massachusetts, called it the “nature-versus-nurture controversy.”

You can follow @hannahflint_ on TikTok for more videos.