Pollyanna Grows Up

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Pollyanna Grows Up

by Eleanor H. Porter (1927)

How could I have been such a fan of Pollyanna all these years and not read the sequel until now? I’ll admit that upon reading the short blurb on the back of this book, I almost didn’t give it the chance it deserved. Like Jimmy Bean initially felt, I just didn’t want Pollyanna to grow up. Her charming and unconscious optimism wouldn’t be quite the same coming from an adult. Needless to say though, the book did not disappoint, and I am rather glad I read it.
The book begins with Pollyanna still as a child, only she is on a stay with a family in Boston, where her Pollyanna ways spread to new friends. The book then does an abrupt 6-year fast forward midway through the book after Pollyanna’s long stay in Germany with her Aunt Polly and Dr. Chilton. Their circumstances have changed quite a lot by the time they return. Pollyanna, now 20, reconnects with her Boston friends and the Pendletons as she tries to figure out her new life.
After a bit of dramatic confusion, the book comes together like a perfect puzzle at the end, a bit unrealistically, but sweet, nonetheless.
Will I be rereading this one? Definitely. Maybe not as often as the first, but it’s surely worth revisiting.

Before We Say “Goodnight”

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Before We Say “Goodnight” by Hank Frazee

Father of three kids and insurance agent by day, Mr. Frazee tells a real-life bedtime story to his kids every night, which he has calculated to be over 8,000 stories. This entertaining, quick read is a convincing argument for the importance of sharing life stories with your kids. While many families, including the author’s, believe in the importance of reading books to children before bed, Hank suggests there is also much to be gained by including a story about your own life. It’s a great opportunity not only for your children to snuggle close with you and learn from the way you structure your stories, but also to help them learn about their family’s history and perhaps be comforted in knowing that you faced similar challenges, embarrassments, and joys.


I have to say that when I first read through this book, I was immediately on board with the idea but thought that I couldn’t possibly have enough stories to share. I racked my brain only to come up with memories of accidents and humiliating moments from my life, not the kind of thing to lull my young daughter to sleep. But Mr. Frazee offers tips, ideas, and a few pages of story prompters to help the reader embark on this journey. It took a little bit of reflection for me. But, notebook in hand, (which Hank suggests you won’t necessarily need), I slowly began jotting down ideas of real-life stories I could tell. And once I began this process, I really started to “get it.” The stories didn’t have to be long or even highly entertaining. They could be stories from my own experiences or other family members’. I now have pages of ideas. Mr. Frazee’s book really has been an inspiration.

Now, years after my first reading of his book, I realize just how much this book has changed the way I parent.  Storytelling plays a central role in our each and every day, whether they be stories from our long-distant past, stories from our day, or stories from books or movies my kids have yet to experience.  With more and more practice, storytelling has become second nature for me, and has been a huge part of bonding with my kids.  Thank you, Mr. Frazee

Darth Vader and Son

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Darth Vader and Son (2012)  by Jeffrey Brown

This is a book of one-page comics that show what life would be like for Darth Vader if he were spending time with a four-year old Luke Skywalker.  I don’t know Star Wars that well and had to have some of these cartoons explained to me further, but most of these stand on their own, even for those of us with limited Star Wars knowledge.  They will be especially funny to parents or to anyone who spends time with young children.

I happened to first read this book soon after giving birth to our second child, a time when my emotions were a big, dramatic jumble of very high highs and very low lows.  And so, as I read these over and over to our own four-year old, while nursing her brother, I laughed out loud uncontrollably… as in… I CouLD. NOT. stop. laughing.  I’m pretty sure this book is funny even to a person of average emotional range, but these comics hold a special place in my heart for all the joy they brought me in those early, raw days and weeks after giving birth.

 

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There’s No Good Card for This

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There Is No Good Card for This:  What to Say and Do When Life is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love (2017)
by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell

This book is such a gift to society, and I’m wondering if it’s possible to make a book like this required reading for everyone.  I kid myself in thinking that I grew up without anyone close to me experiencing any of Life’s “tough stuff.”  But, the more I think about, the more I realize I was just completely unaware.  I usually consider myself a fairly empathetic person, but, sadly, it wasn’t until quite recently in my life that I woke up and realized how poorly I’ve handled so much.  Being there for others, whether through an illness, a divorce, loss of a loved one, a job loss, or whatever it might be, is so very important.  I keep wondering how I can change the world or “save the world,” and, sometimes, it’s truly just being there for people that counts the most.  It’s all too easy when people are suffering through something to ignore the situation, avoid that person, or offer cliche words we’ve heard far too many times.  I think it wasn’t until I’d gone through some of this rough stuff myself that I realized just how hurtful some of these reactions can be.  And while I realize everyone is stumbling through and doing their best with what they know when it comes to supporting others through awful times, there are now beautiful resources like this one to help give us tools to be a little more graceful in our approach.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough.  The authors are genuine and helpful, without ever being judgmental.  It’s a book that should be read and re-read and taught through example.  Ms. Crowe offers, what looks like, awesome empathy courses, and Emily McDowell has a great and hilarious line of supportive, original greeting cards.

The Fisherman and the Businessman

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I saw this story up in a restaurant (well, ok, it was a Jimmy John’s) and thought it was worth repeating.   Many sources state the author of this tale is German author, Heinrich Boll.  You can find versions of this story all over, and they are all quite similar.  Here is one version I found on Paulo Coelho’s blog:

The Fisherman and the Businessman

So many of us judge “success” by what society tells us it is – making more money, gaining promotions, making the most impact, having a bigger house, etc.  But the dictionary definition is “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.”  So, if someone’s aim doesn’t line up with the popular idea of what our goals ‘should’ be, but they are accomplishing it, then they have achieved success.  Sounds obvious, but I think even people like myself, who consider themselves on the outskirts of the societal norms and expectations, easily get swept up in these accepted notions of what it means to have a successful life.  It can be hard to detangle the web of what is our own and what has been fed to us.  From time to time (let’s face it, usually after some Internet brainwashing), I’ll suddenly feel like I’m falling short.  Like maybe there’s more I need to be doing with my life to measure up or be making a difference or even just to be happy in my own life.  But, our family has very purposefully made choices that don’t fit a lot of the societal conventions.  So, no, our day-to-day and our milestones aren’t going to look similar to what we see on social media or in magazines or in many circles.  I definitely appreciate stories like the one above or quotes like the one below to help get me back on track and realize that I AM living the life I want.  Sure, like any human, I’m always setting new goals, but as long as my life is matching up with what I want, then I can set down the comparisons and continue finding my best life.