What happens in your house when you are (or mom is) sick? I was lucky. As a stay-at-home mom of a toddler, I actually sort of got sick days. My mother-in-law lives five minutes from us and was always willing to take Hazel for the day. This meant I got some sort of time to rest. It had its own issues like feeding Hazel bacon after the stomach bug. Yup, she came home early that day. But I knew how lucky I was. I had several friends who had no one to help so when they were sick, they still had to be mom. It is hard. Now imagine what it is like if mom is really sick--seriously sick. How do the kids feel? Let's face it moms are important to kids. Mom being sick is a very scary thing for most kids. Today I am sharing a book with you that helps kids find their own role in helping when mom is sick. The book is When Mom Feels Great Then We Do Too! by Phyllis Schwartz and illustrated by Siski Kalla.
From the Publisher:
When Mom Feels Great, Then We Do Too! Written by Phyllis Schwartz andIllustrated by Siski Kalla
Ages 4+ | 38 Pages | Publisher: Acorn Publishing | ISBN-13: 9798885280143
Publisher’s Book Summary: When Mom, one day, came home and said, “I think I better get in bed”
It was up to us to get together
As a team so she’d feel better
We came up with all sorts of things to do
Because “when mom feels great then we do too!”
PURCHASE LINKS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phyllis Schwartz is a married mother of two, who, after a highly successful career in the TV news business, finally has the luxury to indulge in and focus on her “civilian” writing. Even as a kid, she kept a diary and wrote little stories and poems, a creative release that continued well into adulthood. She wrote news by day and poetry by night. And despite battling three different types of cancer over more than three decades, she is still filled with energy, joy, and optimism, and she looks forward to writing more poetry and children’s books.
Her writing centers on the beauty she finds daily: Her friends, husband, and two children, as well as her garden and her beautiful beach town residence in dreamy Encinitas, provide continued inspiration for her verse.
https://www.phyllisfeelsgreat.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081575637158
https://www.instagram.com/phyllischwartz_author/
From Me:
Perhaps it is the timing of this review for me, last week I had the stomach bug and my gi system is still recovering and this weekend we were told my father is on the last part of his journey in life, but this book makes so much sense. There is a need for young children to understand how they can help when mom or really a parent/guardian gets sick. The book itself is rather simple. The words are easy, and the illustrations are beautiful. There are suggestions of being quiet and tiptoeing to helping make mom's favorite meal or help make her bed. Plus, ideas like making her funny videos and cards or playing with her where she is comfortable. The book pulls in other family members like dad and a grandmother. Much of the activities are fun from baking cookies to walking to the zoo when mom feels better.
I love the simplicity of the story. It deals with mom having to go to the doctors to get fixed up. It doesn't talk about a specific illness and gives the reader ideas to help mom heal. It also let's young readers know this happens to moms and not just theirs. I love how the book shares mom being recovered as well and returning to the activities the family loves to do together. It is a sweet book about family and the closeness of a loving family. At the end there is even a recipe for the story mom's favorite meal--wieners and asparagus.
Having a very sensitive child, I have always had to be careful expressing how I am feeling around her. Hazel almost always can sense when something is wrong with me even now. She used to worry so much when she was younger, and I got sick. She knew and still knows the important things I do to keep our household running. I have taught her to cook, but she doesn't really like to do it and isn't great on her own, so if I'm sick food is limited. This year with me going back to work has been interesting to see how our household is changing. Steve is stepping up a bit more as well. This book would have been perfect for Hazel when she was younger and worried about me getting sick. I know it is also perfect for children with a mom who gets cancer, or other serious illness as well as a mom who just isn't feeling well for a few days. I hope you will check it out!
Giveaway:
Enter for a chance to win a copy of When Mom Feels Great, The We Do Too! and a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card! Good luck!!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
- A copy of When Mom Feels Great, Then We Do Too!
- A $50 Barnes and Noble gift card
Four (4) winners receive:
- A copy of When Mom Feels Great, Then We Do Too!
