Meet Farell and Ashby – Grounded, thoughtful and fun! Just a few words that came to mind when we got to know this playful family. Their outlook on raising kind and considerate little adventurers warmed our hearts, and their Top 10 Words of Wisdom are an everyday treasure.

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When your child doesn’t want to do something, what do you say/do?

• “In our family, we always try.” We’ve recently incorporated the idea of making an effort and keep this mantra on repeat.
• If it is problem-related, we include our kids in the solution and decision-making. We try to give them the ‘power of choice’ (e.g., “Red pants or blue pants today?”) When our youngest was little, we read How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen and we incorporate Faber’s lessons a lot – from exaggerated and funny conversations, to the power of choice, to recognizing and acknowledging feelings and beyond. We recommend it to all our friends with toddlers!
• (“Pretty please? You can have a cookie.” Just kidding. But let’s be honest, sometimes that works too!)

Funniest thing your kids said lately?

• Our eldest (age 4.5) – “When I grow up, I want to be a paleontologist in the morning, a rockstar in the afternoon and a superhero at night.” (We love his ambition.)
• Our youngest (age 2.5) – “Oh mannn!” (Funny to hear from someone who’s 2.5 feet tall.)

What’s a recent event you wish you could do-over or say-over again?

In general, we believe we’re always learning; we will forever be reflecting on and refining how we parent. Recently, our eldest son has been interested in power play, including gun play. We initially shut it down altogether, but after researching the topic (on Plinkit) and talking with his preschool, we’ve modified the conversation. We understand that it’s developmentally normal and part of power play, but in our hearts, we wish it wasn’t a thing.

Biggest parenting challenge right now?

• We recently learned that our youngest son has Apraxia of Speech so we’re navigating new terrain and learning how best to support him in his development.
• Our boys have just started to share a room and they love it. It’s super sweet, but makes quality reading at bedtime more challenging. We’ve tried a few new ways to approach it, but haven’t figured it out quite yet.

5 surprising things about parenting:

On your kids’ learning: How quickly they absorb new information and retain it. Defining words in a way that a toddler can grasp and comprehend is tricky, but their hunger to want to know is awesome and admirable. We talk, talk, talk – narrating the day, sharing stories and asking questions. All those back-and-forth conversations really matter.

On school: Children are resilient and teachers are saintly – truly heroic. I was a substitute teacher at our sons’ preschool for 1.5 hours and was exhausted afterwards. I have a newfound appreciation and respect for all teachers!

On toys: Cardboard boxes, mixing bowls and wooden spoons are just as good, if not better, than store-bought toys. For example, the other day the boys were in the laundry basket with a travel suitcase pretending to be pilots late for their departure. Unplanned moments like that are priceless. We’re always looking for playful ways for them to connect.

On food: Veggies are hard to stomach in our home. Very hard. Condiments are our best friend! I always put new foods on the kids’ plates to either smell or taste even if they don’t eat them. I have never been a cook (I burn microwave popcorn every time), but I spent so much time in the kitchen when our eldest was a baby making homemade baby food – lentils, lamb, you name it – and he ate everything. Now, it’s starchy toddler food or bust! But never say never. Patience and exposure are key for us.

On childcare: It takes a village. Find your village in whatever shape that may take. As transplants, that means a lot of dear friends and trusted babysitters. Clear communication is critical and childcare needs evolve as a family grows.

What does your morning routine look like?

• Our kids are polar opposites in the morning. Our youngest is like his dad – wakes up first, always happy and on the right side of the bed. He calls for us around 7 am, runs to the kitchen, opens the freezer, pulls out waffles, grabs a chair and pushes it over to the toaster. He has a plan! Our eldest is more like his mom – loves to sleep in and always asks for a “few more minutes.”
• Once everyone is up, we gather in the kitchen over breakfast and talk about the plan for the day and what we are excited about. Then, we make a wish that we will be out of the house on time – ha!

Rainy days – What do you do?!

• Outside – Puddle jumping is a favorite.
• At home – It’s Hide and Seek, reading books, playing dress up, putting on plays, building forts, having dance parties, getting busy with our hands (puzzles, crafts, cooking, etc.).
• But, make no mistake, something quiet like a movie with popcorn is also a crowd pleaser!

What are your kids’ 3 favorite books?

• For the eldest (age 4.5) – Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit, Amos and Boris (Mom’s favorite too!), Hattie and Hudson and anything superhero-related.
• For the youngest (age 2.5) – Big Red Barn, Cars and Trucks and Things that Go, Harold’s Flyaway Kite and anything Buzz Lightyear-related.

What do you wish you would do more/less of as a parent?

• More: Slow down, be present and celebrate the little moments that make up a life. Keep creating our own family traditions.
• Less: Hear myself on repeat. We’re really working hard on first-time listening.

*Plinkit is proud to share these parent profiles as they authentically represent the diverse voices of our Plinkit readership. The views and opinions expressed in these parent profiles are those of the authors and may not necessarily reflect those of Plinkit Pte. Ltd.