A community for parents, educators, & children's book lovers.
Discussions of reading, behavior, & happenings.
For those who know me, greeting a friend means making them a latte, ushering them in to my oversized couch, and sharing a space to be there for them: for their day, for their family, for their highs and lows, for their recipes, their goals, their jokes--for their stories.
For those just meeting me, I am so glad you're here. I hope your cup is full, you are somewhere comfy, and with a proclivity for those same stories.
I fell in love with children's books as an early reader. I would lay on the ground at the foot of my bed, my chin resting on the palm of my hand and the other turning the pages of stories I would read over and over and over again. Playing and dancing outside, I would add on to stories of characters I adored, dreaming up alternate endings or their next adventures. I turned to writing poetry and short stories by my eighth birthday, when journals and pens became favorite gifts to receive. I announced I'd be an author one day and in my twenties...
...that dream faded.
Not intentionally, nor wrongfully; other flames simply burned brighter than my deep glow for writing. I'd keep small poems alive by pen, then put them to rest in drawers promising to "come back to this later." I found that when my personal story called for it, writing bridged my days of living, loving, loss and learning but I had no idea that it would be motherhood--and children's books in particular--to reignite the flame for me so magically.
I have two sons and they are my world. I have relished in reading to them every night since bringing them home from the hospital, and you can imagine the fluttery delight inside when we came up with the new family competition of "Who Can Make Up The Best Story" that quickly moved me to jot notes in my phone after they had drifted off to sleep each night.
And there it was: reignited in true and honest ways, rooted in my love for for children's books, and finally "coming back to this later."
I am weeks away from getting my second children's book into the hands of readers and families and the feelings are excitement and undeniably surreal! The feelings that are not? Doubt. Transitioning into the world of writing and publishing (as well as the symbiosis that is starting my own behavior coaching business) was riddled with anxiety, fear, doubt and worry of how my work would be received. But over the course of two beautiful and intentional years I have learned a very important lesson: my books will reach the hands they are meant to. My work will reach the families it is meant to. My words will fall on the ears and hearts that listen. Why waste my time doubting what will happen, when it will happen whether I doubt how or not?
Instead, I have chosen to focus on my course, and trust my ship. That "course" follows a close line to my personal and professional practice, and so if you do not already, I welcome you to follow my child and parent coaching journey to learn more! As you get to know my perspective and practice fueled by emotional learning and connection, it will quickly come as no surprise my children's writing is designed to share the same thing with our young audience of readers. My goal is simple: to write stories that are relatable and identifiable by all kids, especially those who experience the world through a neurodivergent lens. When we see ourselves (our friends, our family, our classmates) in what we read, we connect with the stories of day-to-day life. We build our awareness for others and conversations, even at the youngest of ages. We play and grow together and we enjoy really great (beautifully illustrated!) books, too!
If you have landed on this page, thank you, thank you, thank you. May the pages turn eagerly, yet not too fast; characters speak to you while you give them the best voice of your own; the endings dancing ahead to next adventures or relishing in the moment with your little reader.
Stay connected in the coming weeks! As I roll out some introductory posts to get to know you, you will also learn so much about The Inclusive Reef, Tides Learning Behavior Coaching, and more!
