Children’s Books We Love
“No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time.” Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
A lovable but clumsy elephant accidentally destroys someone's home, then comes up with a clever solution (Welcome Home, Mouse). A child in Tanzania turns an ordinary rock into a beloved companion (Elizabeti's Doll). A boy discovers that he can write...
Saying Goodbye to a Pet
"I was hoping Penny wouldn't die in the night, but I thought she might. I wanted two days with her. Today wasn't very fun because we couldn't pat Penny." Rachel, age 4
"I imagine her in a house sort of like ours, with colorful flowers all around." Clara, age 6
One Parent’s Grief
"...please: Don’t say it’s not really so bad. Because it is…If you think your task as comforter is to tell me that really, all things considered, it’s not so bad, you do not sit with me in my grief but place yourself off in the distance... Over there, you are of no help…I need to hear from you that you are with me in my desperation. To comfort me, you have to come close." Nicholas Wolterstorff, Lament for a Son
I Don’t Like Mommy
“I don’t like Mommy sometimes and it’s okay to feel that way.”
As I exited her room after asking her to clean up her toys, I overheard my older daughter mumble these words. And I was so happy to hear them.
I believe that one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is the freedom not to like us all the time.