You Might be a Perfectly Imperfect Mom if...

You might be a perfectly imperfect mom if...

As your daughter gets out of the car at school you discover that, in the morning rush, you forgot to put her shoes on.  But, according to her, it's the best day of Kindergarten so far because you spent the day with her as the class went on a pretend airplane trip, complete with an actual pilot, and your pretend flight attendant skills were great.  Apparently, you're an expert at handing out snacks and filling drink orders and that's all that counts to a five-year-old!

To tease your teenage son, you secretly write a little love note on his lunch bag one day.  You're sure to hear him complain about it as soon as he walks through the door later.  Instead, he gets home from school and tells you that his friends got a huge kick out of it.  So, you write on his lunch bag every day for an entire year of high school and, miraculously, he doesn't hate your guts!

You encourage your child to be the bigger person when another person is being hurtful.  It pains you because he's having a tough time, but you're sure he'll come out the better for it in the end.  When things don't work out quite as you had hoped, you know the exact time to step in and fight for him, even if Mr. Jones looks like the type of guy who, as we always say, "can break you in half!"

Hey, even the most beautiful, perfect diamonds have imperfections, so why can't moms? 

May is a month for celebrating moms and those precious little ones who gave us that honorable title.  One of the ways I'm celebrating is by donating all May proceeds from my three children's books to National Right to Life.  My numbers are small but every penny counts in the fight for each and every precious life.  I hope you'll join me.

To all perfectly imperfect moms, Happy Mother's Day!  And, to moms who have lost their perfect little ones, may you have peace in your heart this Mother's Day.

Martha

Let me share one more.  I hope you'll share some of yours here, too.      

You write "To Pamela Ping" on the invitation envelope to your child's fifth birthday party when the girl you're trying to invite is named Penelope.  You've only been in the United States for two years, have never heard the name, and are afraid to ask because you don't think you'll be understood through your thick Cuban accent.  It makes your daughter happy to see her friend at the party and Penelope thinks her new name is silly!  My mom and I laugh about it still!  I love you Mimi.  Happy Mother's Day to the most perfect mom in the world!

If you are so inclined to join me:

A Reel Cool Summer is available here.

Smell My Feet! 10 Seriously Silly and Sweet Short Stories for Squirts is available here.

What About Barnaby? (A Gumshoe Crew Mystery) is available here.

Five Gold Stars for SHOW ME HOW!

 

SHOW ME HOW!  BUILDING YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING

By Vivian Kirkfield, BA, MS

Vivian Kirkfield has poured so much care and love into this wonderful guide that it is palpable on every page.  Any parent would consider it a blessing to be able to leave their little one in Vivian’s loving, caring and thoughtful hands.  Since she’s not available to all of us, this book is the next best thing.

SHOW ME HOW! is the first in the new Positive Parental Participation Series.  It is a book that you can pick up today and start using within minutes.  The format is wonderful as Vivian divides the book into six chapters, each with a different theme such as Mastering Tasks and Skills, Valuing Strengths and Qualities, and Feeling Appreciated, Loved and Accepted. 

A brief anecdote introduces and clearly illustrates the theme of each chapter.  Then, within each chapter, Vivian lists 15 to 18 picture book titles with synopsis and one craft and cooking activity for each book.  A short Positive Parental Participation Note explains ways in which parents, teachers, and caregivers can lead the way in building a child's self-esteem.

Many of the picture books will be on your home, class, or school library shelves.  If they are not, they will surely be available at your public library or inexpensively at your favorite local or on-line bookstore.  The materials required for the craft projects will probably be found in your craft closets, project drawers, or recycling bins.  And, the tools and ingredients required for the cooking activities are items you will have in your utensil drawer, fridge, or pantry.  Of course, it is always a good idea to check the lists and plan ahead so that children won’t be disappointed if items are not readily available.

You don’t have to be an expert to use this book to its fullest potential.  All you need is a love of children and a desire to build their self-esteem.  The rest is all fun and games and yummy, nutritious treats.  Every child will be excited to relate the stories from the picture books, to display their artwork and craft projects, and to share their snacks with their teachers, moms, dads, grandparents, older siblings and babysitters.  With one hundred great ideas at your fingertips, building self-esteem in your child or student has never been so fun!

For more information about SHOW ME HOW! or to purchase a paperback copy or Kindle book edition please visit www.positiveparentalparticipation.com.

DISCLOSURE:  I want to sincerely thank Vivian Kirkfield for sending me a complimentary copy of this book to read and review.

You Wrote a Book? (Why is everyone so surprised?!)

Me:  Hey, Mary, guess what. 

Mary:  What?

Me:  I wrote a book! 

Mary:  You wrote a book?  Really?  No way!!

Me:  Yes!

Mary:  NO WAY!

Wow, why am I so shocked that people are so surprised?  I guess I can understand it in a way.  Do you know anyone who has written and published a book?  I happen to personally know two people and I think that’s probably a lot.

After the shock comes that weird feeling in the pit of your stomach.  It’s kind of like that awkward silence that rears its ugly head when you’ve been introduced to someone with whom you have absolutely nothing in common.  Do you just start talking about your book?  Do you wait until they ask you about it?  Neither?  Both?  Is “both” even a choice?

I wrote a picture book and I find that it’s relatively easy to get the conversation started.  I mean, who doesn’t like children’s books, right?  They’re easy to read and the pictures are cute.  If it’s not about a topic you like, it will be over soon.  You don’t have to read 300 pages.  The fact that the book’s characters are my three children, and that my oldest son Joey illustrated the book, makes it that much easier.  Moms and Dads like to talk about their kids… but *WARNING* they have to know when to stop.  You have to strike a balance (I’m trying to learn).  The people who know my kids will probably see their personalities shining through in the book and those who don’t know them will immediately understand how wacky they are and wonder what kind of parents we are. 

The funniest part comes when the conversation gets more comfortable and people start to give you advice, some good, some not so good.  At that moment, you thank them for their advice and you just put it all in your memory bank and make something of it later… maybe!  You’re just glad that the person hasn’t walked away yet and that they seem interested.  Maybe they are really good actors.  I don’t know.

So, now I’m actually ready when people are surprised.  The conversation goes a little more like this:

Me:  Hey, Mary, guess what.

Mary:  What?

Me:  I wrote a book!

Mary:  You wrote a book?  Really?  No way!!

Me:  I know.  I’m kind of surprised myself!  (See, now we’re on the same page… pun intended!)

I hope you’ll stop by my website to get a sneak peek at A Reel Cool Summer, watch the book trailer and read reviews.  Oh, and if you want to get on my good side, you may want to buy it… I’m just sayin’!

Until next time… stay cool!

Martha

Special note:  I want to thank my wonderful friends Michelle, Sharon, Kelly and Clare.  They may have been surprised but did not show it.  The first thing they did was buy a copy of my book to share with the little ones in their families.  That did not shock me; it melted my heart.  You are four incredibly wonderful friends!

Special note #2:  My friend Sharon, mentioned above, MADE ME add this note from her.  She's a sweetie pie!

OK, you have me in tears now!  Thanks for acknowledging me, but you get all the credit here.  I wasn't the least bit surprised you wrote a book - I somewhat expect things like that from you!  You are very talented and creative …. and it's obvious you're a mom who's really into her kids, which I love about you.  I say "good for you, write another one!"  And if you do, be sure to let me know when it comes out so I can buy it for my grands.  By the way, you're pretty incredible yourself!  (and I'm no actor!)