Paps and I have two boys, 10 and 16. For 16 years, we are bombarded with so many parenting challenges. Our home is always noisy, messy, and busy. Whenever we feel tired, we say to ourselves that a quiet home has no children in it. It is much better to have a "chaotic home" caused by our kids rather than having a spic and span abode with defeating silence.

Therefore, children are definitely the best teachers around. They are the reflection of who we are in the past. If we try to see how beautiful they are, they help us become better parents. They also remind us of the things that our parents have gone through when we were young and those memories teach us to become more empathic and appreciative.

In line with this, I have read the book Car Key Gnomes... and other household pests (Poems by Miciah Dodge and Artwork by Danie Plott) with Paps. We had so much fun! The contents of the book are poems about mischievous gnomes who are joyfully making mischief around the house, perfectly paired with gorgeous artwork. They may be hiding away the car keys, borrowing the socks or shoes, or knotting someone's hair while he sleeps. They don't mean any harm. They are just having fun. Somehow we can relate to the reason why the author has been inspired to write this book. It is his way of reminiscing his boys' mischiefs in the past while those boys were denying what they did. But in case that they were telling the truth that time, then someone else might have been to blame, and perhaps those might be the Car Key Gnomes and other household pests!

"Car Key Gnomes ...and other household pests" teaches the family about growing up and the fascination of appreciating good memories instead of wallowing in misery. Kids teach us to see the world with unblemished innocence, the essence of a simple life, and genuine happiness.

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