Rewriting the Script

What if the words you speak to your child are more powerful than any consequence you give?

Rewriting the Script is a groundbreaking parenting book that reveals how everyday language-labels, rules, and internal narratives-shapes the way we connect with our children. Drawing from the science of human behavior and the emotional truths of parenting, Navi Randhawa, M.D., BCBA, helps caregivers replace reactive scripts with intentional, values-aligned dialogue.

Whether you're a gentle parenting advocate, a burned-out parent seeking practical tools, or a behavior analyst looking to bridge the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with real home life-this book speaks to you.

What You'll Learn:
✓ Why your words-not just your tone-build (or break) connection
✓ How to recognize and rewrite common parenting "scripts" that harm trust
✓ What the science says about labeling, rules, emotional regulation, and flexibility
✓ How to pause reactive patterns-and speak in ways that reflect your deepest values
✓ How to model emotional fluency and self-awareness through everyday language
✓ Tools for rupture and repair when things go wrong (because they will)

What Makes This Book Different:
- Rooted in Science: Based on behavior analysis, Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and ACT principles-translated for parents, not clinicians.
- Fictionalized Vignettes: Each chapter includes relatable, emotionally charged parenting stories that mirror the chaos and love of everyday life.
- Practical Tools: Includes example phrases, self-reflection prompts, and language swaps you can use immediately-without needing a graduate degree in psychology.
- No Preaching. No Perfection. Just meaningful language shifts that prioritize connection over control.

For Parents Who Feel Like:
- "I always end up saying something I regret."
- "I want to do better, but I get stuck in the moment."
- "I don't want to parent how I was parented-but I don't know another way."
- "I'm tired of harsh advice or sugar-coated solutions."
- "I want to raise emotionally intelligent kids-without losing my own mind."

Who This Book Is For:
- Parents of toddlers to teens
- Gentle parenting & conscious discipline enthusiasts
- ABA clinicians looking for trauma-informed, family-centered tools
- Teachers, therapists, and social workers seeking accessible resources
- Foster, adoptive, or neurodiverse family caregivers
- Anyone ready to pause, notice the script-and rewrite it

For Fans Of:
- The Whole-Brain Child by Siegel & Bryson
- Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields
- Parenting from the Inside Out by Siegel & Hartzell
- No-Drama Discipline, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Self-Compassion for Parents

You don't need to memorize techniques. You just need to tune into your language-and choose words that honor your child, your values, and yourself.

Because the most powerful change doesn't start with behavior. It starts with what we say about it.