Comments on: Stories Made Me

By: Eleanor Stanton

Eleanor Stanton — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:47:00 +0000

Oh yes!Perhaps the most wonderful thing is the way they show so many examples of what it means to be a "good child" or even a "good girl."Thinking of Jo March and Anne Shirley… they even have things to teach us grown-ups about being true and brave.

By: Jennifer Armstrong

Jennifer Armstrong — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:59:00 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Eleanor — isn't amazing how these characters become friends and guides for us?

By: Eleanor Stanton

Eleanor Stanton — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:53:00 +0000

When I was in 3rd grade, my mother had an operation that kept her in the hospital for a few weeks of convalescence (back in the 60's, they gave you more time for these sorts of things).My father worked the irregular hours of a truck driver so I was packed up and moved to Albany for a month with my grandmother.

Going to a different school, leaving my own much-loved Mrs. Pratt, and learning a new rhythm in this much-bigger school was pretty stressful. Thank goodness my grandmother was a reader... and I was a reader too.

I found an entire bookshelf of old hardcovers, discovering Tom Sawyer, Oliver Twist, Lord Fauntleroy, Little Women and Little Men over the course of that visit and throughout the years whenever I visited Grandma.

I believe the stories of those plucky problem-solving children saved me.I was a fish out of water in that new school, running afoul of rules that I barely knew.Each night the story of their adventures helped me, "bucked me up," in some undefinable way.

Thank God for plucky heroines and heroes.Long may they live!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:15:00 +0000

I read obsessively growing up, and still read to this day, stories of valor and courage both women and men.Like Jennifer I played with dolls briefly, turned to books more so.I could disappear into a story and become a part of the act, scene, voyage, journey, the realm of fantasy.I love it still, and read to my children every night at bedtime.For many years, they did not want to read for themselves, now in their mid-20's, they are finally reading for enjoyment, and I am proud of that.In a world where electronic gadgets rule the lives of so many kids which then leads to forgetting the basic morays, values and etiquette's I was raised on ~ I am thrilled to read that parents STILL read and encourage writing in younger generations. Kudos !!!

By: Lisa Dungate

Lisa Dungate — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:33:00 +0000

Thanks Cori, for taking the time to share with us, as a fellow writer, how you've impacted your own children's creativity.I love it!Kudos go to Jennifer, though, for this particular post.I love that you are so okay in yourself that your children enjoy true freedom of self-expression!

By: Cori

Cori — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:58:00 +0000

My kids, now 6 and 9, have been writing their own stories on the computer. I've never asked them to do it. I just happened, much to my delight. I know they're watching me, their mom, spend all day (and night) writing stories on the computer. My son watches me edit my books and asks me all sorts of questions about what I'm doing. It's so wonderful to see how uncensored and free and creative they are at this age in imagining and creating their own stories. I also encourage them to write their emotions in their journal. Sometimes, I find their journal open and read what they've written – "I hate my brother," or "My mom is so mean." And I have to smile. Thanks for the great post, Lisa!