It is very important for a parent to listen to your child. His/her life evolves with three important aspects:

• Appreciation
• Acknowledgment
• Acceptance

This has been a daily ritual since last 4 years. Eventually, both of us have grown in our relationship and the bonding has increased twofold.

It was normal morning today and as always, I happened to be driving down my little one to school. In those 30 minutes all that’s True and Real are me and my little. That is the time we talk about everything, including him being hurt by me or my better-half, or him having some complaints against his friends, or my in-laws or our cook.

I am aware that those complaints are most baseless and surely innocent, but I ensure that I hear him out. I then try to breakdown the situation, explain the circumstance, conditions etc. and the allow him to decide what happened was right or wrong.

Much to my pride and sometimes amusement, I have noticed, that whenever I allow him to decide what is right or wrong, a majority of the times he concludes that what happened was ok.

So, this is where the three A’s come into play:

Acknowledgement: Being able to acknowledge your child's work, behavior, thought process, concerns, understanding, maturity, and being hurt and lot more. Acknowledgement is about reassuring him/her that you have understood your child. Acknowledgment gives the child confidence and makes him/her resilient.

Acceptance: A child seeks acceptance from his parents, acceptance of what he/she is and of what he/she aspires to become. Acceptance of him/she as a person works tremendously on the esteem of the child. Acceptance by the parents assures his/her being and promises him/her of a better future.

Appreciation: The most important and the last in the "A" pyramid. When a parent appreciates his/her child, the child feels confident and that helps him/her to face the world. A single word of appreciation makes him/her feel encouraged and special. And this feeling of being special makes his world, the most secured place to live in.

Let us, as parents inculcate the habit of 3 A's in our daily life.

For me, these 3A's are an integral part of my life, the credit goes to my parents and I am now taking this legacy ahead by implementing the same for my child.