As you read this entertaining book, you can talk to your child about:

1. Should we ever give up?
2. Self-talk – what are we telling ourselves?
3. The different emotions we have in our life.

(Please note – When I indent, I am answering questions and sharing insights just as if I were talking to a child.)

Should we ever give up?

Leo was practicing to make his light shine when his friends found him and started to laugh at him. How did Leo react?

    Leo was embarrassed. You can tell he was embarrassed because his knees felt weak and his face got hot.          

Have you ever been embarrassed?

Do you think Leo felt like giving up?

    He was sitting in a dark cave unsure of what to do. Then he heard his mother’s words, “with a little time and practice.” He decided to take charge and practice.

Do you think it was hard to practice in the storm?

    Lightning bugs are small and I bet those raindrops hurt. But he still kept trying until he succeeded even when he was afraid of the lightning.

Self-talk – what are we telling ourselves?

What did Leo tell himself when his mother told him his name meant lion?

What did he tell himself when he was angry?

What did he tell himself when he remembered his mother’s words?

    Our words have power in them. His mother’s words from the night before helped him get out of that dark cave. If we tell ourselves that we cannot do something, or that we are not important, things will happen to prove we are right. But if we tell ourselves we can do it, eventually we will do it. Always remember that you are important to me and I am proud to be your ——.

The different emotions we have in our life.

What were the five different emotions Leo had?

     Everyday we will go through different emotions. We can be happy one minute and sad the next. Remember the next time you are sad it will not be long until you are happy, angry, or even proud. You can choose your emotions and your actions. Why don’t we choose to be happy and do something nice for someone?

Teaching life lessons through stories allows us to share wonderful insights with each other. You will be surprised about the positive impact stories can have on your child’s life. It can be so affirming.

To order this book Click Here

            My parents separated/divorced when I was around five. Things were great until I was 11-12 years old and my mom moved my brother and me to a different state. Then I had a very rocky childhood. Rejection, abandonment and low self-esteem were my constant friends.

            When I was married, I promised myself that I would never get a divorce. We went to Bible College. We became a youth pastors and then associate pastors. Our marriage was having problems. People who knew about it kept asking me why I was still with him. But I had made a promise. Then things got really bad. I could not live with him. I could not get a divorce. I could not let him destroy my children. I was at a point of despair and indescribable pain.

             My faith took me through that terrible period, and I was able to give myself permission to break my  promise.

              I tell you this so you can have hope. I was emotionally and mentally gone but I overcame it. If I can overcome it, so can you. It’s not easy. There are times I feel like I am just keeping my head above water. But I have risen from the pit, I have learned to survive, and I have inspired my children to be better people.

            For the last 14 years I have worked two jobs. In order to see and have an impact on my children I homeschooled them during the day and worked when they were asleep.

            I was able to do all this because I believed that it was possible. You too can believe you will make a difference in your children’s lives. No matter where you come from or what you have been through, you can rise above it. You can help your children succeed in life. There will be problems and they have to go through difficulties but you can give them the foundation they need. They will not always make the right choices, neither do we.

            60-80% of our success in life is because of our emotional intelligence. It is something that is learned. It is something that we can improve in our lives and our children’s lives. Have you heard that leaders are made not born? That is because we are in charge of our emotional life. We have the power to change our lives. Once we have changed, we will inspire our children to change because they will see the difference in our lives.

AnnaMarie