When my kids were younger, I used to grit my teeth and silently chant "Being strong-willed and independent-minded will be awesome attributes when they are adults." It really did help to remind myself that being compliant pushovers were not qualities I hoped my kids would have. ...Except of course, when it was convenient for ME.
Now that they are teenagers, they choose their battles wrt pushing boundaries at home, and we do more rational negotiation and less digging-in-heels. We appreciate their cynical outlook and questioning of authority and questioning many other things most people take for granted.
Not to say that young teens don't present challenges, just that they are different...
