Specialist literature

I’m not sure if Hans really needs to read up on the use of the word “no”. Maybe pertaining to subject of cream cake. But maybe the chapter in the technical literature he is consulting is more about how to use it properly and when not to use it.

Personally, I like reading parenting literature every now and then. Obviously you can’t raise a child by the book, but quite often there are very useful tips, leads and ideas on how to handle certain situations. Also, knowing what an average child is capable of processing at a certain stage of neurological development, really helps having the right expectations and handling problems accordingly.

Our older son is now in the “Terrible Twos” phase. And, knock on wood, as of yet, they haven’t been very terrible. He is still stubborn, but he already was that from the very beginning. But either we’re such great parents, or we lucked out in that regard. Oh, well, there are still nine months to go, and then we enter the “Threenager” phase, which, according to many parents is supposed to be worse.

Right now, I’m explaining a lot that what you WANT to do and what you SHOULD or are ALLOWED to do can be totally different and, in fact, opposite things. It hasn’t registered yet, so the reason “but I want to!!” is often brought up as the ultimate, trump-all argument. I’m sure with patience, that lesson will eventually sink in. When he’s 25 or so.