Toddler

When it comes to the gene pool, there must be a chromosome that makes us read while we're walking. This is exactly what my daughter gets from me.

And, yeah, that's what I had been told: Baby walking, both in the time and the style, is as unique as personality. Sure-footedness, of course, isn't characteristic of my daughter, age 1 (which is why she is called a toddler). Being a fledgling toddler, Jasmine is eager to move around the room. That's pretty much every other new walkers does. But when it comes to her cruise control and reading mode, I can't help laughing.

"Oh, no, be careful," I told Jasmine when I saw her pick up a book or an instructional manual to "read" whilst she was making her way across the living room. Mind you, I didn't stop her from doing her style of walking-cum-reading trip. After all, her father does similar feat all the time.

Yes

I couldn't believe it when my brother brought me the book Difficult Conversations, before he knew that I'm going to take a mediation training course this month. This book might not be new to you, but in case it is I should say that it comes from the same group who wrote Getting to Yes.

Think about the last time you felt the urge to get your boss, your spouse, your friends or colleagues to say yes. It's no secret that today many of us feel that it's harder to negotiate and to foster a supportive environment when we need it most. It hurts.

Yeah, yeah. I know what you're thinking (after reading my last blog). And you're wrong. No, I am not learning to negotiate with my daughter. The truth is, believe me, a toddler is the most simple friend to go along with. What could be easier than to ask a toddler to say yes? Take a moment to teach a toddler to say yes or nod her head. Well, she might not follow - or she might just shake her head. Now, forget the teaching and simply play with a creative mind. Any imaginative game works; it really does. We showed Jasmine a little fairy Unazukin, a Japanese doll who reacts to voice by nodding and shaking her head. She loves that game. After talking to Unazukin and, hey presto, Jasmine learned to nod.

Yes or No

Toddlers love to give "no" for an answer, and my daughter is no exception.

My nephew Ethan learned this fact when he came from the States to visit Jasmine. "Why does Jasmine shake her head every time I ask if she loves me?" Ethan wondered.

Yeah, when it comes to a one-year-old's way of communication, shaking head is much easier than nodding. I was trying to explain a toddler's difficulty with saying yes. Before I could convince Ethan, I found it difficult to convince myself, too. Many of us think that toddler is the only creature to keep saying no, but nothing could be further from truth.

As we grow up, we get glued to the answer "no." Saying yes has become an act of extreme courage, even for adults. Long before we could remember it, the all-purpose "No!" has ruled this world. If you don't believe me, ask your spouse (or your child) to keep a diary for one week and count the times you agree with her ideas. And, would you like to share with me your scores? "No!"