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Minor Issues: Building deeper relationships in 2025
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Getting to know your child or parent better depends on being open-hearted and having good social skills, says Canada-born American author David Brooks.
ST ILLUSTRATION: CEL GULAPA
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SINGAPORE – I used to be a tiger dad focused on pushing my two boys to excel at school. As a young and busy parent, I was often ill-tempered and irritable, shouting at them for the smallest infractions.
I changed course when my wife cautioned me that the path I was on would permanently damage my relationship with the kids. I realised that she was right when I noticed my younger son flinching when I engaged him, preferring to avoid me rather than talk with me.
