Stories That Rhyme: Brave Little Ruth ($2.99)
Raising Kids Who Run To Us, Not From Us, When They Make Mistakes
As parents, we don’t always get it right. My husband and I are not perfect. We have had those moments where we’ve let our emotions get the best of us—where we’ve yelled or said hurtful words in the heat of a frustrating moment. We saw firsthand how those reactions affected our children.
Those raw, not-our-proudest moments led us to a very honest conversation. We agreed that instead of reacting with judgment, we will try our very best to take a pause first, talk more calmly, ask questions and listen more, especially when our kids do something disappointing or out of character.
Creating a Safe Harbor
Our goal is to build a home where our children will always choose to be truthful rather than hiding the truth out of fear. We don’t want them to worry about us yelling, getting angry, or feeling disappointed. We want the bond we share to be their safety net. We want to be the parents our kids run to, not from, when the world feels like it's falling apart. We want them to know that while mistakes happen, our love is a constant that can handle any "mess" they might make.
Having the Courage to Speak up
I created the book "Brave Little Ruth" to show exactly what happens when we choose connection over consequences.
In the story, Ruth is a gentle girl who makes a simple mistake: she accidentally overfeeds her goldfish. The image of her sitting on the couch with a "face of alarm" is one that many children will recognize—it's that split second of panic where a child decides whether to hide the mess or seek help.
Ruth tries to fix it herself, but eventually, she finds the courage to be honest. Because her parents respond with pride in her honesty rather than anger over the fish food, Ruth’s fear melts away. She ends her day in the warm embrace of her parents, knowing she is loved for her heart and her honesty, not for being perfect.
Using Stories to Remind Parents To Pause and Listen
When we choose to pause and listen, we are teaching our kids that their voice matters. Whether it's a broken window, an overfed fish, or a big mistake later in life, we want our home to be the first place our kids run to. By choosing truth over fear, we are raising kids who know that no matter how messy life gets, they are never alone.