her three children. She used counting for sibling rivalry and
disrespect. She used some of our “Start” behavior tactics for picking
up, homework, and—most importantly—getting up and out in the
morning. She also employed sympathetic listening and shared one-on-
one fun as bonding strategies.
Sarah was a trouper. As she revolutionized her home life, we
started spacing out our sessions since she didn’t need to come in as
often.
One day early in January, Sarah came in for her last visit. She no
longer looked like she’d been run over by a truck. As she sat down, I
asked her how things were going.
“Really well,” she said.
“Well, that’s saying something,” I pointed out, “especially since
you just spent two weeks with your kids over Christmas vacation.”
“Yep, it went well,” she said. “I’ve come a long way.”
Then she hesitated. “But you know something?” she added. “I
didn’t realize how far I’d come until after they went back to school
after Christmas vacation.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
A little teary, she paused, then said, “I missed them for the first
time in my life.”
What Can 1-2-3 Magic Do for You?
If you are raising young children, the 1-2-3 Magic program might be
your ticket to effective and enjoyable parenting for several reasons:
- The book has sold more than 1.6 million copies.
- 1-2-3 Magic has been translated into twenty-two languages.
- Over the last several years, 1-2-3 Magic has consistently been
the number one child discipline book on Amazon.com.