I’ve been buying a lot of toys for my kids lately. I’m aware that too many toys can negatively affect children, yet I still find myself buying more. Sometimes, I buy toys because they’re interesting to me, or I use them as bribes or rewards for good behavior. Other times, I hope that toys will keep them occupied so I can get some time to myself. And sometimes, I just give in to their demands because I’m out of willpower.

It is kind of unreal that my first child was born more than 6 years ago. These last 6 years have changed me so much, here are some of the biggest lesson that I learned: Parenting is easy if it is your top priority. The hard part is trying to do everything else. Parenting is hard even if that is you top priority. You will be tired a lot. Sleep is extremely important.

It’s often challenging for a young child to articulate what they truly desire. Their whims may range from implausible wishes like going on vacation right after school to mere indifference with a shrug and an “I don’t know.” Instead of directly questioning what they want to do, engage them in a different way. Ask them to envision what they would do after school, on weekends, or for vacations when they are older and have their own children.