The Conflicting Meanings of Humility

Is Being Humble a Virtue?  I am conflicted by the meaning of the word humble. My youngest daughter has always been a natural athlete. She played multiple sports in high school, including soccer, basketball, and several events in  track & field. In college, she played competitive soccer. Any form of skiing she has mastered from … Read more

Grow a Kind Child, Not a Bully

One of the best ways to grow a kind child, is to show acts of kindness. What a wonderful day to show acts of  kindness than on Random Acts of Kindness Day, February 17. Let’s get to the basics. Just what are some words of kindness? Some of my favorite words of kindness include attentive, … Read more

Splash of Colorful Compassion

Do you cultivate roses in your garden? Let’s have fun. Did you know that the color of a rose has meaning or significance?  Valentine’s Day is less than a week away so maybe I need to brush up on this little detail.  I’d hate to send the wrong message although for me, I’m not picky, … Read more

Focus on the Heart in February

When I think of February, I would think of Valentine’s Day with bright reds, white lace, crafts,  fancy treats, friends, and warm memories. It’s a time where we intentionally, and intentional living is one of my goals this year, make time to reach out and share our love for one another. The month of February … Read more

National Seed Swap Day – Swap in the Good Seeds

Seymore and Serina Seed, from the Cultivating Compassion in Children’s series, are so happy to discover there is a day about them! Yes, January 30, the last Saturday of January, is National Seed Swap Day. What is Seed Swap Day, you may ask? More on that in a bit.  First, Seymour and Serina Seed would … Read more

Let’s Talk Dirt

Boy covered in Dirt

We are now in the season of winter where in the northern hemisphere and states, if there is no or little  snow, the land is brown and dormant. The fields and gardens are bare, no plants on the surface, just the frozen soil. I appreciate being in a climate where there are four seasons. Each … Read more

Teach Compassion – Show Compassion

Never is there a better time to talk to your children about compassion, understanding, love, empathy, and kindness. Never is there a better time to have your child show compassion, understanding, love, and kindness. What can you do to teach your child? Here is an idea I saw posted: Sonja Wendt Enhancing children’s sensitivity in human … Read more

New Release Children’s Books!

They are here! The last two books of my Cultivating Compassion in Children Series are available as of this weekend on Amazon. One is called, What’s Wrong With Grandpa. The other is called BaBa-Balu Belongs, Too. Order your books through Amazon today and get them for Christmas using these links: https://bit.ly/IsGrandpaOK and https://bit.ly/BaBaBelongs

BaBa-Balu Belongs, Too:  Has your child ever felt left out, or that they just did not belong or fit in. You may not even be aware they are having such feelings. Human beings need the feeling of self-worth to grow and develop into a healthy contributing part of society. Often our relationships and connections to others can enhance or destroy that feeling. BaBa-Balu Belongs, Too, is a story of a monarch caterpillar who doesn’t fit in. He feels uncomfortable in his own skin which he grows out of 5 times. The other bugs don’t play with him or include him. This causes him to be sad, mad, and even bad. One day he is so sad he creeps away from his home on the milkweed. He hangs upside down and grows out of his skin again! But this time he falls into a deep sleep. In his sleep he dreams about how the other bugs include him, eat with him, play with him, and invite him to a party! He feels like he belongs. This feeling overwhelms him with happiness. He wakes up feeling included and loved which causes him to spread his wings and become who he is really meant to be, a beautiful, happy butterfly. This story also follows the metamorphosis cycle which is often covered in 1st grade curriculum and includes several of the scientific terms related to it. It was prompted by the occurrence of several childhood suicides close to home. This story of becoming can relate to any situation where the feeling of not belonging can hinder healthy growth, development, and self-worth.

What's Wrong With Grandpa bookWhat’s Wrong With Grandpa: This is a story about understanding aging, disabilities, acceptance, and compassion. It is about a little boy, Joey, who goes on the first hike of the season in the Colorado mountains with his grandpa. His grandpa has changed over the winter. He talks real loud in his noisy truck, he is using walking sticks on the hike, he can’t keep up with his grandson like he had last year, he trips on a rock and looks funny when he reads a pocket bird book, and he can’t spot things in the woods like he used to last year. What’s wrong with Grandpa? He’s not the same. This makes 7-year-old Joey sad and upset. Grandpa and Joey sit down discuss what’s happening, the changes that Grandpa is experiencing. Joey thought his grandpa would stay the same forever and didn’t understand that his grandpa was going through the natural process of aging. This beautifully illustrated book that takes place in a breathtaking mountain setting with nature all around is a great story to help explain the impacts of aging and how it doesn’t change the love a grandparent or aging person has for a child. There are thought provoking questions at the end of the story to clarify and reinforce the concepts of the story. This is a wonderful story for grandparents to share with their grandchildren.

Sonja Wendt

Enhancing children’s sensitivity in human interactions one story at a time.

 

 

 

Author and Speaker

Cultivating Compassion in Children Books Series

https://sonjawendt.com/

 

I’m Not A Weed Receives Purple Dragon Book Award

I am happy and humbled to receive a book award for my first published book, I’m Not A Weed. It won a Purple Dragonfly Book Award under the Cultural Diversity category. The Purple Dragonfly Book Awards is a worldwide book competition that was created in 2009 to celebrate the best in children’s books. A division of Story Monsters LLC, … Read more