Tikoy is no longer a baby. He is becoming more and more himself: establishing his preferences, and can decide for himself. We couldn’t be any happier to see his independence unfold, but it also comes along with tantrums and power struggles.
No parent would be fond of a child throwing a fit when they’re already running late. Now that we’re exploring a world where a child’s voice is being heard to build his best self and lessen the stress of raising a child for mom and dad, we need all the help we can get.
I appreciate how this book is easy to read, funny, and ready with tips that parents can apply right away with principles that are spot on. (I bet it works for adults too!) I picked up many practical hacks from it: most work with Tikoy, and while some don’t, it’s good to have an arsenal we can try so our child can understand that we value our relationship with him, that his voice matters, and that our daily lives don’t have to be a power struggle.
Case in point: writing a wish list works!
Tikoy was craving for Hakaw and wanted them for dinner. The problem is, we had already finished the frozen packs that sat in our freezer, having eaten them the other night. Not to mention, we ordered a portion for him from a dim sum place for lunch. How many dumplings can a toddler eat for days in a row?
We tried explaining to him that we’re all out of Hakaw, but then, we all know how reasoning works with a toddler—it doesn’t. Before he launched into a full-blown tantrum, I remembered a tip from How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: make a wish list!
I hurriedly retrieved my grocery pad and told him, “I’m sorry that there’s no more Hakaw for you right now. It’s annoying not to have something you want right away! But let’s list it down so we can buy a pack on our next grocery day. It’s your favorite!”
The waterworks immediately stopped, and along with the shrimp dumplings came other requests. We promised to bring his list when we do our groceries and let him be in charge of putting them in the cart.
I would gladly review this book from time to time and I promise myself to read the original version by the mother Faber. If you’re a parent to a little child, do get a copy of this book!
Mark x Abi 