"Some days I feel like I'm failing you, but I refuse to give up," says Bunmi Laditan [1] — a mom whose funny side we're used to [2] seeing — in a letter to her "difficult child" on Facebook. Many parents go through a period of time with their children in which parenting seems harder than it ever has, but rather than complain about this phase of parenting [3] in her own life, Laditan is using her struggle with her child to inspire other mothers who may be going through the same thing.

I know that if I can just help you channel that steel will into something good, you'll be a force to be reckoned with. You're fearless. You'll move mountains. You'll defend the silenced. You'll shape the future. You'll breathe fire. . . . I want you to know that even though you think I'm the enemy, I'm your biggest cheerleader. . . . I know you have fire burning inside of you. It's my job to make sure that you don't let it consume you, but instead use it to burn a path in the world one day.

Read the rest of Laditan's powerful and heartfelt letter below.