Life has a way of doing that, not in a dramatic, everything-stops kind of way, but in the quieter way where seasons shift, priorities change, and the things you once updated regularly slowly fall into the background while real life takes center stage.

But I’ve been thinking about this space again.

About what it was when I started it back in 2009 – mostly product reviews, curiosity-fueled research, and a lot of sharing things I was learning along the way. It was a different season of life, but in a lot of ways, the same thread has always been there: I’ve always been someone who notices things, learns things, and wants to put words around them.

That part hasn’t changed.

What has changed is me.

I’m writing this now from a very different chapter—what I’ve come to think of as a midlife and more kind of season. Fuller, quieter in some ways, more intentional in others. I’m back in Florida, settled in Saint Augustine, where life often looks like sitting on my porch, doing the work I love, reading a good book, family woven through everything, and the ongoing curiosity of figuring out what’s next.

I’m still working as a sign language interpreter, still learning new things just because I can’t help myself, and still finding joy in the small rhythms of everyday life—books I can’t put down, walks when the air is just right, and the occasional day at the beach chasing that sunshine.

And somewhere amidst all of that, I realized I missed this place where I shared my stories and wrote new chapters.

In contrast from sound, his visual acuteness was visible from day one. His eyes darted quickly from movement to movement. His observations were intense. He signed MILK at 4.5 months while breastfeeding. ASL signs were always there for him to access. A deliberate constant. He had no choice but to use them. Regardless, he still loved sound. He sought sound out. He rejoiced in new noises. Each one made him laugh and giggle. He tested sound as if it was a toy to be played with and not the critical identity that all the pamphlets and doctors had indicated would make him more valuable.

By age 4, he had decided that his hearing aids were a useful tool that he could control. Today at age 7, he rarely takes them off. Wearing them has always been 100% his choice. With or without them he is still profoundly Deaf. Where the line falls on his audiogram is not what creates his inner being. It does not change this path or tell us what makes him perfect.

This picture of his very first hearing aids was part of our journey but it wasn’t the end of the path. There will be always choices that he has to make and I look forward to watching him continue to decide how (and if) sound will play apart of his story. Either way, he is absolutely perfect and always has been.

In 1996 after my friend Jenny died, we placed a tall white wooden cross at the accident site. It was such a powerful healing moment. Not only did all of her friends come out to the site but  the first responders who had tended to her at the accident scene also joined us. The cross contained the initials and little snippets of all of those who loved her. The event of making, placing and leaving the cross was cathartic. It was deep and painful but it was also healing and peaceful. It is a representation of all our anguish left on the side of the road as a small reminder of her.

I am not sure of the year that Florida changed their rules, but at some point all the crosses in the state were removed and replaced with circular markers. In her group, we referred to the circular marker as a lollipop. The marker is simple. It doesn’t hold the same power that the original cross did but it still makes my chest heavy when I drive past them anywhere in the state.

It is here where I live so acutely in the land of lollipops.

We moved back to my little college town three years ago. It has been almost 24 years since we stood in that grassy patch with the heavy weight of grief and while so many things have changed, so many more have remained the same.  The one thing that has not changed is the amount of memories that impale my heart at every little turn. Every little cobble stone street. Sidewalk cracks. Chocolate chip cookies and fragrant magnolias. Each of them simultaneously hold the deepest pains and the most intense joy.

It is strange to find yourself caught in the familiarity of the past but then clearly in the present. Knowing that there is something in your heart that has changed but can’t be fully replaced. The feeling of seeing your small child mesmerized by the rainbow prisms of a crystal and remembering the other smile you once saw do the same. Tasting the familiar flavors, saying the same things, walking the same paths, seeing the same shadows. The familiar past is always mixed with the now daily present. Each window of those spaces containing the reflection of a ghost.

That is what death does to a person. It creates lollipops of the familiar all across your landscapes. They burden your days with intimate feelings of the recognizable and a simultaneous understanding that life will never be the same. 

Those memories that once brought joy now are veiled in a fine layer of loss. And even when you attempt to overwrite the pain, the grief often expands into the small crevices like sand in the wind. Markers of where the past and present overlap and joy and sorrow meld into one.

In Memory of Jenny Sadow

Please Don’t Drink and Drive!

Two years ago, when we were getting ready to move to Florida, I stumbled across your gym. I Googled some pictures, checked out your social media and sent an email. I can remember Amanda calling me back. I had two very unhappy kids in the car and I was making my way through Columbus traffic. I hung up the phone with your sweet wife and I knew that this is where we would call home. The next day you called me, I think we talked about 30 minutes. I could hear the fire and passion in your voice and immediately made the decision to call CFA-JAX our next gym family.

Once you knew we were coming, Amanda sent us a message that you wanted to include Lulu in your team reveal balloon party. Again, amongst the craziness, you called her, she was sitting on our couch in Ohio while being passed around the entire gym getting to meet all of her future teammates and coaches. It was absolutely crazy but you made sure she was part of the team from moment one. No hesitation. No questions asked.

The day we walked into your gym, I literally wanted to hug you. You had made the one thing that my daughter was struggling with the most, comforting and easy. You didn’t say, “Oh, she is just a level 1 athlete” and treat her like she wasn’t worth your time. You made her feel special and welcome, even amongst the chaos of practices and parents. She walked out that evening happy and did so every single time she left your gym for next two years.

There are about 8 million moments that I want to share with you but I know I don’t have the time or the tears. I wish I had a picture of each one because they are so vividly etched in my mind. Our favorite moments have never been the jackets or trophies, they have always been in the small things.

The moment Lulu really learned to trust you was the day you called her up front. Picked her up by two feet and walked her across the floor to show your flyers how to hold themselves tight. You had your “Terry” voice on but you held her. Her eyes were huge but she got in the car and told me that you were the best coach ever. After that day, she never once worried that you were going to let her down.

When she was struggling with a skill and you sat in your office and talked to her for a good half hour. We never felt rushed or hurried. You spoke to her heart and told her about spiders and roller coasters. You told her that some fears will always just be there and some you can overcome. You helped her to believe in herself again but without intimidation or fear.

The day before Summit when she was just in a full panic over having new bases and you took her aside and prayed on her, for her and with her. You knew that while her mind was anxious that it was her spirit that needed to be reached.

And my absolute favorite moments are always when you were coaching and she managed to get herself right next to you. She watched you with eagle eyes and soaked in the multitude of spiritual gifts that you have been given.

You see, my kid has never wanted to be a cheerleader. She has always wanted to be a coach. Your leadership, passion and faith is what you left in my child’s heart and that never can go away. As a parent, you are exactly what I prayed for when coming to a new gym. Thank you from the bottom of my very black and blue heart.

We wish you the best of luck and look forward to the future knowing that one day, my kid will stand next to you again. Either as an athlete, coach or friend but always confident in the fact that you changed her for the better.  

“My husband and I are starting the adoption process, we are looking for a young, minor needs girl ages 0-3. What are some minor needs that you would recommend that don’t require surgery or life long care.”

Inevitably someone will ALWAYS mention deafness as a “minor, correctable need.”

Ears are Correctable, Language Deprivation is Not

Ears are absolutely minor and sometimes, somewhat correctable. I use the word “somewhat” because most causes of deafness are not correctable. Of course there are medical devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants that provide access to sound but are not always a perfect fix. Nor is every adopted child a candidate for these devices. Furthermore, do not underestimate the impacts of even mild to moderate losses on language learning, speech and education. Moderate losses can be significant in many learning environments.

I am not going to get into the debate about implants. I believe implants have their place and I know that they help many children. Especially children whose parents have the access, finances, time, education, etc. to devote to proper training. However, they still do not “correct” deafness. Nor are they minor. There is surgery, appointments, listening training, etc. Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implant devices are very expensive to purchase and maintain. Please consider this as your child grows up and is responsible for their own finances. Also, hearing aids and implants do not just happen overnight. You can prepare for a 6 to 12 month process once home.

But It wasn’t on the MCC!

Language deprivation is NOT on your MCC. Nowhere do you get to check a box that says, “hey, give me the kid that is literally like a small wild animal.” Deafness is the one disability that every training technique suggested will NOT work because they have zero communication skills. You can’t have the guide “just explain” to them that you are a new Mama and Baba and you are going to take them someplace great and love them and keep them safe. Nope. None of that. Your first few months will seem like never ending games of charades.

You can’t soothe them with your sweet mama voice or play familiar Chinese songs. You can’t tell them that you will feed them or ask them if they want more. You can’t prepare them for the next part of the journey or even tell them their own name. Plus, if you have studied any of the Connected Child information on trauma, they may be so shut down, so petrified of you that they can’t even process the few signs you do know through the trauma.

You also may find the opposite happens. This child may be so painfully hungry for language that they are lapping every sign up like it is the last water on a hot day and you just can’t keep up with their hunger for communication access.

Language Deprivation is Trauma

Language deprivation is one of the most painful, difficult and horrible abuses children with deafness experience. It is neither minor or easily correctable. Depending on the age of the child, there can be significant long term impacts on all aspects of their cognitive, emotional and behavioral well being. A child that has been kept from all abstract thought, from all connection to other people will likely have developed coping mechanisms in order to survive. Even young children, will have learned to head butt, scream, stiffen up, bite, kick and try to escape. These are not survival skills that will go away easily.

Learning language does not happen over night. Even children who are not spoken to or “taught” language have access to words, sounds, noises. Their brains began to form neurological pathways allowing them the ability to start putting basic language skills together. Deaf children will either be significantly delayed in this area or lacking those neural pathways all together.

Children who have moderate to profound hearing loss are not stimulating those parts of their brain and the effects of language deprivation can be critical and lifelong. Research shows us that children who are deprived language during the early years can have significant memory organization, problem solving abilities and number manipulation even after learning a primary language. Couple that with the effects of trauma on the brain, you are definitely not looking at a minor need much less one that is easily correctable.

Language Connects the Family

In addition to being deprived language in their home country, once the adoption has taken place, are you and your entire immediate family prepared to use sign language ALL THE TIME? Is everyone in your family committed to making this child part of your family? If you are the mother reading this, I am going to tell you. Being the ONLY person committed to learning sign language will be very difficult. It will be a painful one sided life that is unfair to both of you.

Not Minor. Not Correctable.

I do understand that many families adopt children believing they will “just implant them” and it will all be better. It might be. The question you have to ask yourself is what if it isn’t? What about the six month hearing aid trial that will required by insurance? What about the time to schedule the surgery, the healing time and then the mapping? It will probably be close to 9-12 months before a child is at the point of regular therapies to help them learn to use their listening skills. That is one more year that your deaf child will have to live in survival mode. Are you willing to sit by for an entire year with your now 4 or 5 year old only using infant level language?

Plus this plan is only good if  a) the child is a candidate for a cochlear implant and b) if he/she responds well to them. I know many families that have brought children home from China, with the intention of using CI’s and instead found themselves several years down the road with a child who was not a candidate, did not respond the implant or was deemed a failure by the CI team.

What can you do?

First, be prepared to learn sign language. Second, understand that children with hearing loss will most likely have significant language deficits that have nothing to do with what is wrong with their ears. Most importantly, be prepared for the worst case scenario and have multiple plans ready to meet the language development needs of your child.

Should I Adopt a Deaf Child?

Now I know there are some people reading this and thinking, “Ughh, Melanie, isn’t it more important that a child get’s a home.”

Absolutely! Unequivocally YES!

I want to see every deaf child coming home to a loving prepared family. A family that understands that ears are not what causes the long term educational and social-emotion struggles that adopted children with hearing loss will experience. I want parents to know that deafness is not necessarily a minor correctable need.

This post isn’t to dissuade you from adopting a child with hearing loss. On the contrary, this post is written to help you understand the reality of adopting children with language deprivation.

This is a go into the adoption of your language deprived child with your EYES WIDE OPEN post. It is a find a mentor, an ASL using family, more deaf adopted families. Ask questions about deafness, hearing loss, genetics, educational programs. Be open to answers that you might not like or want to hear. Listen to these families that are walking your path. Be open to hearing from real Deaf adults on what it feels like being “left out” of their families, even families with good intentions.

Most importantly be open to the idea that this may be the hardest need no one told you about.

Most of the time, the past 365 days are all kind of blurry. Bringing home a child, from another country, with disabilities comes with a whole host of emotions. You can read about it in books, talk about it on Facebook but still not really truly understand. All the dreams that you plan, the thoughts that you have, can never really live up to the expectations or the moments that will follow the day you become this child’s Mom. Overwhelming feelings that this child is often more like a stranger in your home, than your child.

If you have not had the privilege of birthing a child from your womb, the weight of PPD (post partum depression) or the difficulty of attaching to a birth child, you may not understand what I am going to say. You may believe all the hype of “love at first sight” or “you will just know” kind of philosophies that surround adoption but the reality is for many parents, the first few months (maybe even years) are wrought with internal struggles between love and strangerhood.

This child, who you so desperately long to love does not love you. To be honest, she may (on many days) not even like you. She doesn’t have any reason to believe that you are good or kind. She doesn’t smell like you. She doesn’t look like you or your partner. You don’t stare into that infant face and think, are those my Mama’s eyes? You don’t look at those little hands and think, I made that. There is no intoxicating smell of infant milk breath and cries that make your bosoms swell. There are no hormones swirling through your body to make you crazy with love.

Simply put you are missing all the “things” that make you love your child unconditionally, in the very first moment.

Instead you find yourself with a stranger in your home. They smell funny. They do things differently. They don’t understand love or kisses or bedtime snuggles. They don’t look like you. They don’t have your mannerisms or family tendencies. There are no little “things” that create natural connections.

They are strangers yet they are not, all at the same time.

Even though everything in your heart screams, YOU MUST LOVE HER. She still feels foreign. She feels separate. You may sneak in and smell her sweaty head as she lays sleeping or rub her soft face as she watches TV but something always feels a bit off.

You watch her smile and accomplish something new and you swell with pride. Pride is not love. At the doctors office you hold her tightly and tell her it will be alright and you burst with concern. Concern is still not love. She beams with joy and happiness and in return you know she is right where is belongs but still it feels different. It feels odd, strange.

And time goes on.

There is a new normal and a new day. Some days are more challenging than others. Some days hold a host of opportunities for connections and other days feel dry like a desert.

Then one day, you are standing in the mirror. You are watching her little face shine with a huge smile while you are putting her requested pig tails in, just the right way, just how you KNOW she wants them. And you take the back of your hand and brush it down her cheek, feeling her soft cool skin and it feels normal.

It feels like love.

And in that moment you realize that somehow, someday, the child that felt like a stranger for so long, no longer feels adopted.

She feels like yours.

So you take one more quick touch.

And you plant a kiss on her cheek.

Remembering the day she no longer felt adopted.

One of the challenges of having a child with special needs is finding opportunities for enjoyable an fun play-dates. While my kids are fortunate that they have a large peer group at school, it is often challenging as a parent to see them excluded on the playground, in church and other kids activities. As they get older making sure that their social environment is free of boundaries will be an important challenge. This is why it is important for parents of typical developing children to remember to be all inclusive when planning birthday parties and play-dates.

Here are my 5 recommendations to creating an inclusive #DisneyKids play-date or party:

1. Invite Everyone! There used to be a norm in classrooms that everyone get’s invited. Now parents send virtual invitations and skip handing out the envelopes and that gives them also the ability to exclude kids that might seem different, have a disability or might come from a different background. Instead of deliberately picking and choosing, invite everyone. Even virtual invitations are not secret, feelings still get hurt. Want to print your own invitations? Use an HP Card Kit and make something unique and special today.
2. Call the Parent! When inviting a non-typical peer, reach out to the parent. Ask them what accommodations you can make for their child.
3. Find a Buddy! Do you have an older child, neighbor or babysitter? Maybe the invited child has a sibling. Find someone to partner up with the child, help them with the activities, games and fun. This let’s the child feel more normal and gives mom a worry free break. (make it even better, offer to let her sit back and enjoy planning her next #DisneyKids vacation.)
4. Everyone’s a Winner! Make sure there are a few games that everyone can feel successful playing. Each child has different strengths and weaknesses. Needs some ideas? There are lots of great birthday games that can be adjusted to become more non-typical friendly. During our party we had a Hidden Mickey Game, much like an Easter egg hunt, kids were sent out in search of Hidden Mickey’s on the playground. Mickey’s were located at various levels to make sure everyone could see and find them. You can add brail or print on textured papers if a child has a vision loss. You can add bright colors or make them larger for kids with Autism.
5. Don’t Be Afraid! Yes, inviting a child with special needs to your child’s party might be weird and even a little bit scary. They might not the perfect party guest and there is a good chance they may lick the frosting or try to open a present. Be patient, be kind, you don’t need to be afraid of these little kids. Trust me, us special needs parents are more worried about our kid ruining your event than anyone else.

Our #DisneyKids Pre-school Party!

We recently hosted our Disney Preschool Playdate with several of our deaf and hearing friends. While the party was geared towards preschoolers, my daughter and her friend hung out to help with the little kids. Since my son is obsessed with birthday parties, we called this “Mickey’s Birthday” and decorated with all the Mickey Mouse Playhouse items that arrived in our #EndlessMagic gift box.

We baked a bunch of cookies and cupcakes, popped some Pop-Smart Popcorn and had a Hidden Mickey seek-and-find game. Liven up your pop-corn with sprinkles, candy glitter and vanilla candy melts for a tasty Pixie Dust Popcorn treat.

One way we accommodated the needs of all the kids is by printing out a whole bunch of the Hidden Mickey images and instead of having the kids look for them and leave them, we taped about 20 of them through our playground and had the kids run around finding them. They were so ecstatic to find each Mickey head. When they had found them all, they had fun just swinging on the swings. Remember 1-2 activities for this age group is ideal. Kids ages 3-5 will transition from one activity to the next about every 5 to 10 minutes.

Find All Our Favorite #DisneyKids products online!

You can create your own #DisneyKid Preschool Party by purchasing items mentioned in this post. Many dollar stores have the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party items. Pick up your Pixie Dust Pop Secret Popcorn at your local grocery store. Make sure little hands are clean from grim by using Soft Soap Hand Wash Plus lotion.

Need Accommodation ideas?

If you ran across this post and are looking for ways to accommodate your next party, leave me a message in the comments and I will be happy to help you brainstorm some ideas. There are lots of ways to make your party inclusive for kids of all abilities.

Until next time. See you real soon!

We are off to Neverland but couldn’t do so without our amazing American Tourister Luggage.

]]> https://sunshinepraises.com/2017/04/to-my-daughters-cheer-coaches/ Wed, 26 Apr 2017 03:03:31 +0000 https://sunshinepraises.com/?p=3593 [Read More]]]> Lulu was just 4 years old, I took her to first all-star cheer gym. The gym had a little picket fence separating the sitting area from the large blue spring floor. There was no AC in the gym, the doors were open and mega fans were drowning out the noise on the floor. She stood mesmerized. Her little toes pressed against the edge of the mat. Her eyes were as large and green as I have ever seen them. She had pig-tails in her hair and she kept whipping her little head around at me and giving me the biggest smile I had ever seen. That moment is burned into my memory. Given permission, she took off her sneakers and bounded onto the spring mat with the other girls and never looked back. On that day, 4 years ago, she didn’t even know how to do a simple front roll, however she was hooked.

On that blue mat she gained confidence and skills. She grew passionate and eager. She walked out on stages of bright lights and yelling fans and she radiated happiness. She never once has been scared to take the floor. If anything she thrives on the energy and team-work. Being a cheerleader is as much a part of who she is as her own skin.

There have been many challenges and new adventures for her this year and as coaches I commend you. I was really nervous when they placed her “up” on the next level team. I wasn’t sure she was ready but your confidence in her put me as ease. Your faith in her skills and your obvious love for this team is evident every time I see one of these girls run to you for a hug or praise. The two of you have had a tremendous impact on my daughter and I can’t express to you how grateful that makes me.

And for all of that, I humbly thank you.

Thank you for making this year amazing for her. Thank you for believing in her as she blossomed under your guidance. Thank you for being gentle on her when she felt weak and needed encouragement. When you knew she had the ability but fear was standing in her way, thank you for pushing her beyond her comfort zone.  Thank you for noticing when she worked extra hard, learned a new skill or took on a challenging task. Thank you for filling her days with praise.

Thank you for teaching her to accept her mistakes and giving her opportunities to try again without harsh commands or criticism. Thank you for holding her accountable to her team, for instilling the value of practice, for recognizing her potential and helping her achieve new heights. Thank you for your ability to see her inner sparkle and to make every day in the gym a positive and rewarding experience.

Thank you.

See you at the Summit

And the answer is…

YES!

Yes, yes, yes and resounding, Belle singing at the top of her lungs YES!

Beauty and the Beast Review

While I have yet to be disappointed in any of Disney’s attempts at bringing an animated classic to life, I definitely think that with each new film they are exceeding the expectations two fold.

First let’s chat about our bright little beauty Belle (Emma Watson). I am not going to lie, it took me till she was out of the village to really see her as anyone except Hermione. It was hard with such English cottage feel to it to see her outside of her infamous role. I had to blink a couple of times to remind myself who I was supposed to be watching. By the time Belle found herself on the top of hill over looking her little provincial town I had started to believe that she was in fact Belle.

Humble, beautiful and intelligent Belle plays her role beautifully. She is charming and sweet yet brave and confident at all the right moments. When you see her standing on the snow filled castle grounds or tending to her the Beast’s injured wounds, you can not separate the real from the digital imagery.

The Beast

The Beast! Oh the please, please don’t kill the Beast! The song ruminates in my head has I write this. We had so many questions about the role of The Beast, played by Dan Stevens. Was he in a costume? Full make up? Are parts of it digitalized? He seems so real and in 3D that you will be tempted to reach out and touch him. His live action character seemed more gentle than the animated version. Maybe not as loud or frightening. It didn’t take away from his character but never the less, you will fall easily for him. Even though you know the out come when the towns people start chanting, your heart will race with fear.

Gaston

Gaston. Hateable, laughable Gaston. I don’t like you! Hysterically played by Luke Evans, his live action counterpart is just as ridiculous and egotistical as the animated version. It is unimaginable that anyone could find themselves rooting for this bohunk. He is simply horrible. Which probably makes him so realistic. Evans did a great job portraying this unlikeable character.

Other Praises

The most magical part about Beauty & The Beast is all the enchanted characters. The digital imagery of the enchanted furniture is so very realistic. I struggled a bit wanting them to be a tad bit more like the animated movie and less “real” looking but of course that is just silly. They need to look like antiques that you would find in a completely run down castle.

Music! I love the original soundtrack and can sing every song. I had to keep reminding myself not to sing along. There are a few new songs that I am not sure I absolutely love but overall it is a stunning soundtrack.

Dum…Dum…Dum…The Controversy

I debated even talking about this. Is it really even worth being considered “controversial?” However as a faith based blogger, I felt I was doing my readers a disservice if I didn’t at least mention it. Then being trying to be the good blogger, I started to research a bit about Josh Gad and his roll as LeFou and you know what the most exciting thing I learned? Josh Gad and I graduated from the same freaking high school and he was also a Forensics team member. So then I was all side tracked trying to remember if I had ever known him or if he had siblings my age. I graduated 7 years earlier but it was a PreK3 to 12 school and sadly I didn’t find anything to connect us. I tell you all that because honestly, finding out that Josh Gad and are both U School alum is more exciting than any “controversy” that the media whipped up.

Seriously.

If there had never been one comment about LeFou being characterized as a gay man, you absolutely would have no idea. The character is no different than the one in the original animated film and I guarantee that even the most observant child will most likely overlook anything in the movie that might be considered controversial. As a matter of fact, when my 12 year old read about the “gay character,” he asked me who they were talking about and I responded with, “who do you think?” and he had no clue.

Who Should See Beauty & The Beast?

Everyone! I personally would recommend this film for ages 5+ due to the intense scenes and scary beast. If your child has seen the animated version, then I would explain that it will be the same but louder and more intense. Prepare them for the villagers attack and the fight between Gaston and The Beast. There is something different about seeing an animated death and a real person being shot or falling from a high tower. Even though, like other Disney movies, you don’t see the actual blood or injuries, if feels more “real.” The coyote scene is very realistic. Real dogs, bearing real teeth. It is dark and if you are young, even if you have seen the animated movie, you might not be able to recall what happens next. Even my daughter who has seen Beauty & The Beast a million times jumped and moved closer to me during a few scenes. So my parental suggestion is to know your kids, watch the animated film, talk about the scary parts and maybe during the movie, quick whispers to remind them that they already know what happens.

Sing Along

This Friday, April 7th, Beauty and the Beast will be releasing the Sing-Along version in approximately 1,200 theaters. Make sure you take your little performance loving kids to this get our seat version of the movie.

Follow Along with A Tale as Old As Time

Like BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Facebook.

Follow BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Facebook.

Follow BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Instagram.

Visit the official BEAUTY AND THE BEAST website here.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is now playing in theatres everywhere!

MVP Kids is not just for foster or adoptive families, it isn’t even just for kids with special needs. MVP Kids is for ALL families that that are looking to celebrate and normalize diversity and inclusion in their lives. As a matter of fact, I would highly recommend these books for those of you that would like to expose your children to a variety of ethnicities and abilities.

MVP Kids Children’s Book Review:

For this review, I was provided the digital copy of Celebrate! Mommies and Daddies and Celebrate! Our Differences! Right from the beginning of the first book, I noticed the tiny details that make MVP Kids so unique. Beyond the obvious differences like skin color, the writers at MVP Kids take notice into little things like an Italy t-shirt and a child size walker in the corner. Each page of the book is created with such intricate detail that I had to look at them several times each to take note of all the opportunities for discussion. I am particularly fond of the the Swahili family that includes a baby wearing Daddy!

In the second book,  Celebrate! Our Differences I found another charming story teaching children to see past differences and embrace friendship. As a diverse family, we often find children apprehensive to interact with our children. Children are naturally curious about Ezra’s hearing aids and glasses or Lydia being Asian. Parents can often unintentionally make it even more ackward by pulling their children away or shushing them out of embarrassment. Another thing that I love about the teaching tools in the
Celebrate series is the parent tips at the end of the book. Head, Heart, Hands is the method of parent tips. Informing the child (teaching them something, reaching their hearts through lesson based on love and not fear and lastly practical hands on practice.

About the MVP Kids Children’s Book Series:

What Can You Do?

MVP Kids has started out with a very modest Kickstarter goal of $7500.00 which they have already exceeded! Woo Hoo! But does that mean they don’t need your help? Absolutely not, They have a stretch goal that will enable them to donate 1 book per backer to a charity that serves foster children. Can you help them reach their goal? While I was provided with a digital copy of the book, I really wanted to see these amazing books come to fruition, so I decided to step up and become a backer too! For just $15 you will receive two MVP Kids books. If you can’t back the project then please consider sharing on your social media channels.

I can’t wait to get these books into the hands of my children! I know they are going to appreciate having characters that look the same and have the same abilities too!