Toddlerhood can be quite a frustrating time for parents. Kids in the throes of this stage seem to change by the minute. And while it’s crazy to think that these precocious tots have only been in this world for a short time, most have a tendency to walk around like they own the place!

Case in point: This determined little girl who does just about everything she can to assure her father that she can brave the cold, all without wearing shoes. Shoes? Who needs those things anyways?

The viral clip starts off with the little girl’s poppa doing the weird thing that lots of parents of children this age tend to do—he’s speaking in the third person.

“Dad said you’re not allowed to go outside. It’s too cold,” he reasons. Sounds about right; so far, I’m “Team Dad”. But before the desperate father can get his full explanation out, the spunky little tyke cuts him off with some pret-ty convincing babbling.

Now, I wouldn’t be able to sit here and deconstruct the chattering for you, but I think it’s safe to say that we are clear on what it all means. I don’t want to put on my shoes, Daddy! They feel weird on my feet, and, besides, I love walking around in the snow with bare feet!

“But, you don’t have your boots on!” the dad continues to plead. That’s all you’ve got, Daddy-o? We don’t think there’s anything that will sway this kid to put sandals on, much less boots! As expected, she gives him the perfect retort—a lot of highly-fluent jabber that certainly gets her point across.

What we love so much about this kid is the fact that she is dead-focused on getting her point across. She’s looking her father, who’s just off-camera, right in the eye. And, like most children her age, she’s not letting a little thing like language skills get in her way.

I’m not lying when I say that I am sitting here, envying this little girl’s assertiveness. I hope she doesn’t grow into a timid teenager—stay gutsy forever, little one!

If this scenario is making you bow your head in solidarity with her poor parents, then listen up! We’ve found some tips that should help make “shoe time” a lot less stressful!

Pediatrician Harvey Karp, M.D. says that “challenging a stubborn or feisty toddler” is simply not the way to go. Believe it or not, he actually recommends taking a more fruitful approach to situations like these.

In his book The Happiest Toddler on the Block he writes:

Be incompetent. Put your coat on backward and place your shoes on your hands. Say, “I’m ready to go, are you?” She’ll laugh, straighten you out, and get her own shoes on for once.

That certainly brings up a humorous visual, but, when it comes to toddlers, there truly is no bad advice. Everything is worth a try!

Now that you’ve learned a helpful technique to help combat situations like this at home, it’s time for you to see if these intrepid parents win the “battle of the boots”.

To witness this highly-convincing tot stand her ground against the evil that is footwear, be sure to click on AFV’s video below. Someone sign this kid up for a baby debate team—STAT!

What do you think of this strong-willed toddler’s winning argumentative skills? Do you have a little one that hates to get dressed? How do you get your kids to put on their shoes? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!