FeedEverybody’s Talking About Childhood Memories and Finding Emma by Steena Holmes
May 30, 2012 in Book Club Possibility, Helping Girls and Women Around the World, Holmes Steena Tags: Book Giveaway Contest, Helping Women and Girls around the world, WOW! blog tour
I’m writing today’s post as part of the WOW! Women on Writing’s “Everybody’s Talking About Favorite Childhood Memories” mass-blogging event celebrating the release of Finding Emma by Steena Holmes (www.steenaholmes.com).
Steena is a woman who believes that “in the end, all things succumb…to the passions of your heart.” Steena’s life revolves around her family, friends, and fiction. Add some chocolate into the mix, and she’s living the good life. She took those passions and made them a dream come true by pouring her heart into each of her stories.
Finding Emma, a novel about a mother who cannot accept her daughter is missing in spite of her life crumbling around her, has quickly become a bestseller. Proceeds from each book will be donated to The Missing Children’s Society of Canada – an organization dedicated to reuniting families. Visit www.mcsc.ca for more information.
If you comment on this post by Friday night 11:59 pm CST or any of the others participating in the “Everybody’s Talking About Favorite Childhood Memories” day, you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of Finding Emma!
To read Steena’s childhood memories and view a list of other blogs participating in the “Everybody’s Talking About Favorite Childhood Memories” day, please visit The Muffin (WOW!’s blog).
So, what’s my childhood memory I’m going to write about?
Well, I’m going to write about the first time I can remember that I started to READ THESE BOOKS and USE THEM (of course). My mom stayed home with me before I went to kindergarten, and I was an only child. I stopped taking an afternoon nap when I was in the twos. As any stay-at-home mom can tell you, this is not a good thing–every mother, no matter how much they love their children, needs an afternoon break. So, I had a rule that I didn’t have to sleep, but I had to stay in my room for a certain amount of time each day in the afternoon.
So, what would I do with this “in my room, entertain myself” time? Well, I would line up ALL of my stuffed animals on my bed, (about 20 to 25), get out all of my books off my bookshelf, and read to teddy bears, Humpty Dumpty, Raggedy Ann and Andy, and many more in bed. Even at 4 years old, I knew that books were important and they needed to be used–even if they were being used to NOT TAKE A NAP and entertain a trunk load of stuffed animals!
If this is the first time you’ve visited my blog, welcome! I generally blog about children’s books and how to use them with kids and teens. I like to participate in events like today–it keeps blogging fun and makes you feel part of a community.
I would love for you to share a favorite childhood memory with me in your comments. Remember, one lucky winner from all the participating blogs will win a signed copy of FINDING EMMA! (If you don’t have time to leave a memory, we would love to even hear HI! and you’ll be entered to win.)
Here’s the book on Amazon. Happy reminiscing!
May 30th, 2012 at 11:01 am
I also used my stuffed animals to avoid going to sleep, but I did so at night instead of at naptime. And, since my parents had already issued lights-out, I couldn’t read to my stuffed animals. I would lay on my back in bed and play with the little bears and dogs dancing around and meeting each other on my stomach. Now I wonder if this is part of the reason why I have trouble getting to sleep some nights – I trained myself to not go to sleep even once I was in bed with the lights off!
May 30th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Margo, I so enjoyed reading about this book and your own childhood memory.
Now I know how my daughter likely enjoyed her quiet time after she outgrew her map time.:)
Appreciate chance to enter name for book draw.
May 30th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Oops, forgot a childhood memory!
I grew up in a rural area surrounded by trees and fields. One of my favourite memories is focused on climbing my favourite apple tree to reach some of the delicious fruit for a snack. The world looked so different up there!
May 30th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
What a great memory! My daughter decided at two that you only slept at night time too.
Congratulations to Steena!
One of my favorite childhood memories involves going to the beach with my grandparents in England. They would buy me a new bucket and spade every time I went with them. I remember covering my Grandad with sand and thinking my Nanny was the most beautiful and elegant lady in the world.
May 30th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Hi Margo,
I can picture you lining up your stuffed animals and reading to them. What a wonderful childhood memory.
One of my favorite childhood memories is waving a small American flag and marching in the Kindergarten parade at the end of school year.
Donna
May 30th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Childhood memories of books. I feel like I always had a book in hand. The artwork in the vintage Little Golden Books still gives me a warm feeling. Love that Pokey Little Puppy.
May 30th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Oh my gosh, your memories are making me think of more memories. Donna–I remember my first grade elementary school parade, marching in a purple uniform and twirling a baton. In kindergarten, our school decided to do countries of the world, and ours was GREECE. We wore blue and white like the flag.
Golden books, Rita, my favorite is the Kindergarten one–can’t remember the title though, but I read that one all the time waiting to go to school!
Thanks to everyone who has left a comment so far.
May 30th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Thanks for sharing this! Books held such an important part of my life growing up – I loved to get lost in them any time I could!
May 31st, 2012 at 12:40 am
I have several favourite memories related to avoiding going to sleep. One was when I got to go to a sleep over with the girl living on the neighbouring farm and we scratched messages onto each others back, leading to giggles and yet another stern reproach: “Girls go to sleep!”
The other was when one of my uncles would stop by to visit with my parents after I had gone to bed and I would sit in the dark at the top of the stairs to try to catch bits of their conversations.
May 31st, 2012 at 3:34 am
This sounds like a book I’d enjoy reading!
Childhood memory: For a while we lived in a house in the “country” on 2 acres of field and woods. I used to go to a huge jackpine tree in a clearing and climb up there to read and imagine I was in a pirate ship or a rocket.
May 31st, 2012 at 6:55 am
What a great, EARLY memory, Margo! I wish I could recall how I entertained myself at that age or what books I enjoyed reading. Lucky for me I can rediscover all those children’s books with my daughter now!
June 1st, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Absolutely wonderful post of your childhood memory and of course announcing Finding Emma!
My favorite childhood memory was my father always took vacation between Christmas and New Years and we’d go ice skating at the local pond. Such joyous memories!
All the best,
Donna
June 3rd, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Hi all–Sharon K. Mayhew is the winner of this blog post. This means that she is entered to win a signed copy of Finding Emma. Congrats, Sharon, and I hope that you win the copy! I’ll let everyone know.
Thanks again for sharing your childhood memories AND for stopping by to support, Steena!