Being a mom comes with many challenges, but it brings with it so many beautiful things as well. One of those is the opportunity to see and experience life through the eyes of a child. That’s something we adults often lose the ability to do as we get older. My two young sons, like most kids, have always been curious and spirited little beings, with questions galore about life. I wanted to create an opportunity to speak to the very real concerns of their hearts, but in a way they could comprehend. Writing children’s books became an excellent vehicle for that purpose. Carbie is my first book, and it illustrates an important message we can all learn from.
The Concept of Carbie
The concept of Carbie is something I imagined several years before the book’s actual conception. I wanted to tell a tale of perseverance, but in a way I hadn’t seen before. Carbie is a piece of coal that was having an otherwise typical, happy-go-lucky day, until he slipped and fell into a crack in the earth. When Carbie finds himself stuck despite all his efforts to wiggle his way out, his emotions come rushing to the surface. He’s scared, he misses his family, and he begins to wonder if he will ever make it out.
As the book continues, Carbie does indeed emerge from that crack, but he is different! No doubt the struggling and pressure he endured and the growth he underwent contributed to his new, sparkling appearance as a diamond. That’s what adversity does when we stand firm and press toward our goals even when the going gets tough. Carbie is a reminder of that.
Kid-Friendly Comprehension
When I told people I wanted to write children’s books, many wondered why I would dare to add one more thing to my already full plate as an interior designer, philanthropist and TV host. The answer was simple. In addition to all those things, I am also a mom. I know what it feels like to have to find answers to tough questions in a way that my kids can actually understand. Every parent remembers the moment their child asked them a question like, “Where do babies come from?” or “Why is my friend’s skin color different from mine?” We know the answers, but how do you and should you communicate them to a child?
Let’s Talk About It
I wanted to give parents an appropriate way to talk about difficult subject matter with their impressionable kids. Carbie’s story is simple, but his problems feel large. That’s exactly how children feel when they encounter obstacles. My hope is that parents will do less shying away from these topics, and instead aim to spark conversations with their little ones when similar situations occur in their lives.
Never Give Up
The idea of Carbie was born out of some personal issues I was facing at the time all those years ago, but this children’s book officially came to fruition after a trip to visit my girls in Kenya. I can remember sitting in the school and listening to their stories of hardships and beating impossible odds. I was in complete awe! These young women had fought so hard to gain a chance at things we take for granted in the western world. Their courage and determination was more than inspiring, it was galvanizing! Something inside me stirred, and I knew I wanted to bring those lessons home.
Most kids have a hard time getting through problems they experience. Even small ones can feel like a crisis, sending shockwaves through their little bodies, and *BAM*, before you know it, they’re in the middle of a full blown meltdown. Teaching children about challenging predicaments and letting them know that we all experience problems is a big part of preparing them to deal with things in healthy ways. No one should be afraid of having feelings and expressing their emotions. But, it’s what we do next that can make or break our situations. Carbie made one choice, and it was the thing that ultimately saved him. He never gave up. He got frustrated. He felt sad. But he never stopped trying to meet his goal.
A Children’s Book About Perseverance
Carbie’s plight is what perseverance looks like. He endures to the end and emerges as a bright sparkly diamond. I want children to know and trust that they can do hard things. They have what they need to meet an obstacle head on, look it in the eye, and say I can do this! Pressure creates diamonds. Teaching these lessons will help our children respond to life’s little (and big) stumbling blocks, both as a kid and as the adult they will grow into.
Are you ready to start these conversations with your little ones? You can pick up your copy of Carbie today on Book Baby, Amazon and even on Kindle!
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