Even before I followed my dream to be a published author I would tell stories to my kids. With my oldest daughter, I even memorized a few of her favorite books, and would simply quote them off to help pass the time during long trips or in places that she needed calming. From that humble beginning, I started telling stories that featured each of my children in various situations. The one thing that held true through all the years was having a purpose for each story I told.
It didn't matter if I was trying to soothe a child to sleep, or simply pass the time, I knew that a truly good story had a purpose. I don't simply mean to amuse, any silly tale can accomplish that. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have more than one book on our bookshelf that only serves that purpose. I wanted to do more.
With each child, I would take a moment before spinning my tale to consider the things happening in her life. Even without realizing it, I was crafting stories with both whimsy and purpose.
When I finally realized that I needed to follow my dream, I took that concept and held it up as the standard for choosing which stories would make it to print.
I currently have Bubbles and the Berry Bush available for sale. What purpose does it serve? It was crafted to help children understand several difficult concepts.
-We all face times when we are misjudged, or do the misjudging. I think if we are honest both things are situations that we all experience. Children need to know that they are not alone, and how to handle these situations.
-Conflict resolution. This one really stems from the first. I think that is easy to see. I provide several options and lead children to the best choice. I also acknowledge that talking it out isn't always easy, and doesn't always lead to the results we want.
-Forgiveness. What is the result we want? Forgiveness of the bad behavior or wrong assumption.
At the heart of all this weighty learning, opportunies to bond with your child. Guide a young person through some of the hardest things our your people must learn to navigate. Social interaction at its hardest. Be part of the solution and make a effort to read books with greater purpose than simply entertaining. You can start by getting a copy of Bubbles and the Berry Bush or requesting it from your library.
