It’s Your Kid, Not a Gerbil: Creating a Happier & Less-Stressed Home by Kevin Leman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
If you need parenting advice, get it from someone who has been there, done that. Repeatedly. Like Dr. Kevin Leman, who has five kids.
However, parents who subscribe to the notion of kiasuism, helicopter parenting, overparenting, or whatever it is called these days, may deem the tone too preachy for their liking. Which is a shame. While the front part of the book relies heavily on personal anecdotes or just pure persuasion to argue its case, some research data from relevant sources or experts in the field are used subsequently to back up Leman’s statements.
Unfortunately, some of the chapters are a bit repetitive and the points raised by Leman sound like common sense or overused arguments. Halfway through, the book meandered to parenting advice (e.g. on discipline) that’s unrelated to the subject matter of its title.
It’s a good read, but it probably won’t win many converts despite the liberal dose of humour sprinkled throughout the book.
