Surprise announcement!

Surprise announcement! My children’s book is coming out on AUGUST 9th! “The Mean Beanies And The Sparkly Shinies!” How to build emotional resilience by throwing forgiveness around like confetti!

“Forgiveness is a strategic choice that builds and strengthens a child’s emotional resilience.”- Shana Othen Strole

“Emotional resilience in kids is the greatest indicator of how “successful” a child will be more than income, education, background, etc.” – Time Magazine. My book is a simple to understand and whimsical look at how to build emotional resilience!

She was on the verge of tears, the first slowly falling down her pink cheek. My mouth went completely dry and no words came. It was a normal day at the park. Two years of almost all silence from my daughter, or a few chattering sounds or crying. She had a minor speech delay, slowly learning words and had just learned to say “play with me?”(She now is the chattiest little thing and she hasn’t stopped talking since!) It was bright and sunny out and Anabelle enthusiastically skipped over to a little boy playing with his trucks. I knew what she was about to say because we had practiced together. “Play with me?” she offered the only few words she knew other than “momma” and “dada”. He looked very engrossed with his trucks. “NO!” he angrily yelled. Anabelle looked back at me not sure what to do and began to cry. I wanted to cry (also because all the pregnancy hormones I had from Carter in my belly).

This situation was not a big deal. But. It broke my heart as I watched my daughter feel rejected after using these words for the first time. How could I explain to her that this little guy is totally into his trucks, and it is not a big deal! I wanted her to know the truth. This little boy saying “No” did not have anything to do with her. He was just busy playing. It wasn’t personal. It got me to thinking……how many times have I done this is my life? Taking someone else’s behavior personally when it had nothing to do with me. Letting their words, silence, and unmet expectations hurt me. Walking away assuming the worst in someone and thinking they are a real jerk!

Then I started to see this everywhere. In my own life, for example, when someone would cut me off in traffic. IS THIS GUY SERIOUS? WHAT A JERK? HOW’D THIS JOKER PASS THE DRIVING TEST? GET SOME GLASSES!! The road rage can be real. Is he a jerk though? Maybe he’s rushing to someone’s aid at the hospital? Going to help someone? Or just tired? Distracted? Maybe made a driving error that I certainly have made plenty of.

It distracts and drains our hearts when our burdens of unforgiveness slowly steal our precious energy. I wanted my children to have the tools to be kind and brave with whatever was to come their way. So I wrote a book showing what happens on a heart level when we forgive. Giving them tools of peace.

In the book, a mean beanie gets launched at us when we “take on” and have an angry/ sad response to a situation whether it was intentional or not.

There is a quote floating around out there on the internet, pinterest and in churches that says “hurt people hurt people”. My book answers… then what? What do we do and how do we teach our children to be kind and brave? People may hurt us intentionally or unintentionally but how do we forgive? What does that actually mean and look like? According to Time magazine, “Emotional resilience in kids is the greatest indicator of how “successful” a child will be more than income, education, background, etc.” The book is a simple to understand and whimsical look at what emotional resilience is. It also shows how to build it in our kids, schools and communities. My book is for everyone! Adults too! I am extremely careful with the language that I use in this book. I only use terms and ideas that all children can understand with the hopes that I could be used in every public school setting. So all children can enjoy! If a parent or student wants to know the source of my hope and where my ability to forgive comes from, they can find it on my about the author page!

Without further ado! I am pleased to introduce you to the characters! Please meet: Cotton Candy Mandy, Avocado Anabelle, Nacho Nick, Ice Pop Izzy, Carrot Carter. These characters and this story tapped me on the shoulder for FIVE YEARS begging me to write them.

Cotton Candy Mandy is our brave Heroine in the book. A little boy, Nacho Nick didn’t want to play with her on the playground at school. He yelled angrily at her and it launches a “Mean Beanie” at her. Making Cotton Candy Mandy sad! She is then faced with the choice to drop the mean beanie and forgive, or throw the mean beanie back to Nacho Nick, or hold onto it forever and feel sadder and sadder the longer she holds it. Cotton Candy Mandy decides to bravely forgive and releases the mean beanie so she no longer has to carry it around. As soon as she drops it a Sparkly Shiny appears! It is a beautiful surprise when we forgive. It can turn into many beautiful things like a song, a donut party, or a new friendship. She ends up befriending the little boy that accidentally hurt her. And the sparkly shiny appears as a magical surprise for him as well to enjoy! In the book (and life) forgiveness is a clear strategic choice that builds and strengthens a child’s emotional resilience. The forgiveness is quiet and private but it has a public effect that everyone can see and wants to be a part of! And honestly what’s more fun than a confetti donut party? Stayed tuned for more confetti!