Letters to My Children

Elizabeth Edwards wears a brave face. Campaigning for her husband, John, she has somehow managed to brush aside the dread and fears of her incurable cancer to lead a normal life—well, normal for a presidential candidate’s wife. Her busy days of travel and speeches would wear anyone down, but combine that with her illness and chemotherapy and the many people whose good wishes and advice can’t help but remind her constantly of her mortality, and you have a wonder-woman in my books. How does she do it?

Elizabeth sometimes wonders if she is doing the right thing; while looking death in the eye should she even bother campaigning but instead be spending quality time with her children and husband? She says, “I worry if this is right, but I don’t have any good choices…I have a lot of ways I could be spending my time. I believe this is not a waste of time.” She is doing what she wants to do, what she feels is important and worthwhile to do and it seems to give her energy and purpose.

Elizabeth Edwards is working on what she calls a “dying letter,” or a “guide to life” for her children. She is filling each letter with practical advice to her three children on how to lead a good life, including important things to think about to help ensure their happiness and fulfillment. What a wonderful way to impart her mother’s wisdom to children she may not see grow up.

This is something to think about, this “dying letter.” Whether we mothers are young or old, I think our children would appreciate having a special letter written by our mother. Whether it consists of worldly advice or sentiments about what being a mother means to us, is that not a priceless gift we could leave to our beloveds? A “dying letter” to us might be a “letter of life” to our children. Best wishes, Elizabeth.

Information taken from the Wall Street Journal, Weekend Edition, July 21-22, 2007 “The Nights and Days of Elizabeth Edwards”

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We’re Off To See The Printer!

The last several days have been stress-filled and busy, but the result of all the work and frustration was that yesterday the new edition of Cherry Blossoms in Twilight was uploaded to the printer! There will be a new and improved cover, more illustrations, more songs, black and white photos of Japan and a glossary/index. I was able to pull a more stories from my mother and added a lot more historical detail. This new Cherry Blossoms edition should be perfect for use in upper elementary through middle school grades yet still attract an older audience. I hope to provide a learning experience for children and young adults and a flame that will light the memories of older people who have their own stories to tell.

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Traveling With Kids

How old is too young to travel? Well, at least get the kids out of diapers! So says Maureen Wheeler of Lonely Planet guidebook fame who also thinks kids should be able to eat table food and talk before you bother taking them anywhere really special, unless it’s a Disney cruise. That makes for much less trouble for the parents. According to Ms. Wheeler, ages 7 to10 is the minimum age for children to accompany you on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

I don’t remember everything about my own childhood family vacation trips, but the photos bring back bits of memories and feelings that I now treasure, like donkeys sticking their rather scary big heads through our car window in the Black Hills of South Dakota, or how chipmunks put their paws in our hamster’s cage looking for sunflower seeds when we camped in Estes Park, Colorado, how showers of shooting stars arced across the night sky out in the wilderness. I remember how great it was to spend a lot of time seeing and doing cool stuff with my parents—and even with my little sister.

Traveling is an important way to teach kids about different cultures, different lifestyles, and different environments whether you are discovering the land of Africa or busy, cosmopolitan New York City or the steamy geysers at Yellowstone. Starting kids out exploring at a young age teaches them flexibility and acceptance and may instill a sense of adventure and excitement, instead of fear and apprehension, at the thought of something new. It might spark a sense of curiosity and a love of learning. And all that goes for grown-ups, too.

See http://www.takingthekids.com/ by travel columnist Eileen Ogintz for great travel tips

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