Research in the Old Fashioned Way!

Remember the days when research meant a trip to the library and poring over an armload of books. What with the new School year, T’s best friend’s moving away, our shift to a new neighborhood, missing grandparents after having them all summer, and reaching new milestones, little T is having quite a few adjustments to make. All part of growing up, yes. 

But, I am always game to learn a few new things. And what better than a good old fashioned book to do so. Teaches T that mom loves books and gives me a chance to indulge in my favorite activity and gain helpful strategies too! Win-win! 

  
This book has been on my reading list for a while now. So many of my parent friends recommended this book. Especially the really sorted, have-it-all-together ones. After even my youngest mom friend had finished the book, I decided I have to find out just where are they getting it. Turns out, the ebook version was in our library. 🙄

I am half way through the book and I love it. Even if you are not a parent who yells too much (every parent yells at some point or the other 😜), this book has very good strategies for when your child is being their most childishly annoying self.

  
This next book was a find in the Parenting section of our library. (Paperback) I am constantly bemoaning with fellow moms how our naughty darlings turn into such angels the minute they step into their schools. I keep pestering T’s teachers about tips to understand what they are doing. Almost all the amazing Kindergarten teachers I have met across continents are roughly of the same mound as Madame Gazelle from Peppa Pig. Encouraging, polite yet firm and adept at getting kids to listen, follow and blossom. 

Imagine then, what I felt when I spotted this book! Absolute delight and thrill. Again, I have read a third and already I am so impressed. I can’t wait to finish the rest.

Both these books don’t advocate blindly following the strategies listed. Indeed, they lay out the techniques merely as guidelines to be adapted to each child and parent based on our personal beliefs, strengths and values. I am so happy to have laid my hands on such wonderful texts. I look forward to sharing my detailed reviews once I finish. 

I would like to point out here, that the Kindergarten book is obviously meant for parents of 3-6 year olds. But, it does have a section for older kids and mentions how the tips can be tailored to suit kids of all ages.

I have read some amazing books on parenting in the past like ‘No Regrets Parenting’ and ‘Bringing up Bebe’. Hence, I am happy to add to my list these two books as well. 

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AudioBook- Own the Room

This week’s challenge has definitely been Own The Room– the wonderful book by Amy Jen Su and Muriel Wilkins. This book was on my Goodreads To-Read list. SO, when I noticed an audiobook version in my library, I borrowed it right away.  And then trouble started.

• I do not have extensive experience of audio books. This book has tables which I could visualize but not keep up with in the absence of a tangible cue.
• I listen to audio books while doing mindless tasks like ironing. Not a very good idea as far as this book is concerned. It is a self-help book, that means we need to listen carefully enough to absorb and emulate. Possibly, my visual learning made it hard for me to recall and associate the tables and reference to the ACE model. I know it is Assumptions, Communications and Energy. But, when I listened while multi-tasking, it was hard to recall all three. [Just writing that line makes me feel foolish. I am chanting “I am an Engineer. I have a Bachelors Degree with Distinction. I did an online course from Wharton” as I write to make myself feel better.]

I learned an important lesson in this experience.

Just like some books are to be savored and some skimmed, audio books need differing levels of attention. Sure, all the audio books I finished have been self-help books. But, they were more anecdotal in narration while this was more case study like. Also, two principal characters from the two case studies are carried throughout the book, which I found difficult to keep recalling. The reasons are many: distraction, divided attention, audiobook beginner handicap, preference to the written word and so on. I hope to listen to this book again during the holidays in longer bursts of time. Hopefully,  I shall be able to finish and retain the knowledge that time. Until then, I shall try other audio books and learn lessons from the experience if not the book.

As an aside, I want to add that I finished a third of the book. Up to this part, it was wonderful. I simply enjoyed learning about the ACE model, the four Voice Quadrants and Signature Voice. It was just the process and comprehension that I found difficult.

Have you listened to audiobooks? What were your experiences? Leave me your thoughts and tip sin the comments below.