Before I became a mom, I used to look at parents at the store or park, or wherever, as they would plead with their children to stop playing in the clothing rack, or beg them to get in the car because it was time to go, and I would think, ‘Someday, when I have kids, they will never act like that!’ Boy, was I wrong. The truth is, that children, no matter how well behaved, will inevitably go through stages that will make parents want to pull their hair out. However well prepared you think you are for that temper tantrum in public, or that attitude that seems to erupt out of nowhere from your little one who was sweet as pie yesterday, if you’re anything like me, these things always catch you off guard. It really is too bad that when you leave the hospital with your newborn bundle of joy, they don’t hand you an instruction manual for your baby. It seems like kids should come with some kind of guide for parents to refer to, right?
In our house, we currently have three children, ages eight, six and four. They are great kids, and generally listen and behave pretty well. However, from time to time, it seems like we have some behavioral slip ups and we tend to fall into bad habits in the listening department. As my kids get older, and these seasons come about, I feel more and more like I just don’t know what to do, and I long for that manual the hospital forgot to give me before sending me home years ago with my sweet babies…
Coincidentally, we were in one of these behavioral ruts, when I came across the opportunity to check out 1-2-3 Magic by Thomas W. Phelan, PhD. I will admit, I was a bit skeptical when I jumped into this book. For years, I have been counting to three with my kids. I thought I already knew what this book was going to tell me. As it turns out, I was totally incorrect! I quickly found out that I have been addressing my kids’ listening troubles all wrong. Right away, I learned that it really wasn’t my kids who were the issue, instead, it was me! You see, as parents, we tend to think that our kids have worked themselves into bad habits, but truthfully, so have we! 1-2-3 Magic helped me quickly identify the areas that I was messing up with my kids, and showed me how I could change those bad habits and trade them in for solid tactics to use when my kids were not listening as they should be. The best part, is that it literally only took a couple days for my kids to completely jump on board with the program. Since then, our lives have been much more peaceful! I no longer have to nag, repeat myself over and over, or {gasp} yell at my kids to do as they are told.
1-2-3 Magic is an easy read that allows parents to implement strategies right away. It gives various scenarios and examples of what to do with all types of behavioral challenges. It starts by equipping parents with a solid foundation for carrying out parenting duties when it comes to controlling obnoxious behavior and encouraging good behavior. From there, it coaches parents in areas such as establishing positive routines, chores, getting children to bed and staying in bed and how to stay consistent with the new found peace in your home.
If you are struggling daily with your kids and you feel like parenting is always a chore, check out 1-2-3 Magic. If you feel like it has been too long since you have really, truly enjoyed spending time with your children, because behavioral issues always get in the way, check out 1-2-3 Magic. If you haven’t come across behavioral issues with your kids, because they are too young, your day is coming! Check out 1-2-3 Magic! This book is worth it’s weight in gold and will change your family’s life.
What has been your biggest parenting challenge, and what age was your child when that challenge occurred?
