I see a need in this world to help children navigate through the expectations of a society to conform to an old paradigm of stagnant energy and old ideas. More and more children are being born with old souls and are coming to shake up our tunnel vision of existence. They sense a larger field of possibilities than most of us adults can even imagine. Many of them feel they don't belong on Earth since the world around them is not supporting what they came here "knowing".
The sensitive souls are here to show us another way, and it's time we listened, supported and honored them. I feel like we need more conversations, books and schools that go that extra mile to speak to these inner knowings and deep thoughts our children want to share.
All of my life I have wanted to write for and about the children out there that may feel alone and misunderstood. Somewhere around age ten, I discovered how books can take you away from your surroundings and that there were adults that could listen to a child and really hear them. Perhaps those families were just fictional, but it gave me hope. I craved what I found in storybooks. I could be taken far away to a magical world where animals talked, and kids were respected.
Back then, I cherished the few books my family could afford for me to purchase during our school's annual Scholastic book sale. I adored having a tiny collection of my very own. I still have one of those silly books, Last One Home is a Green Pig. I am not sure how or why that one has survived all these years and so many moves. I got it in 1970 when I was 8 years old and inscribed inside the cover that I expected to keep it for 4 years!
I also loved Judy Blume books but they were so well read and worn out that I suspect I let them go decades ago. I did recently find my copy of Lisa, Bright and Dark, which had been a school requirement to read. That must have hit a nerve in my subconscious because I still have my tattered copy. But that is a story for another day.
Later, as a parent, I wanted to impart my love of books to my children, so we read together often. I remember on one trip to our local library, I had a fairly severe allergy attack from all the old dirty carpets, musty rooms, and dusty bookshelves. From that point on it was off to the bookstores we would go instead. I am not sure that my kids had the same passion or awe for owning books, but I bought them way too many any way!
The more creative the text and/or fun presentation, the more they would read. My goal was to make reading fun and encourage their curiosity. Every summer, we would rearrange our home library, which of course gave us an opportunity to pull them all out and be silly, literally swimming in all the books we had collected. It also allowed them to see the covers and rediscover some of their favorites.
Although my kids are grown and most of their childhood books have been donated, I have kept a kid's corner set up in my writing studio to inspire me with a reminder to keep my childlike curiosity. I remember vividly what it was like to be a child.
I feel like I was one of those misunderstood, undervalued children, and each generation seems to birth even more old souls like me. I personally had to work through all of the ways I felt so different growing up, and perhaps have paved the way to more compassion for the newer kids. I cherish everything they have to say, and I am in awe of the creative solutions they offer to our societal issues. I can only hope that as they grow, they will find their voices and we adults will find our ears.
In the meantime, I wish to speak to them through my children's stories and offer a spark of understanding and support on their journey. They are not alone, and they need to know that, now more than ever.
My love for words expresses itself in everything I do. Most days you can find me surrounded by books. Come join me and let yourself get taken away to a childlike magical world.
Let's get lost in a book!
Tami
Tami is grateful for all of her Highly Sensitive Person traits because they have made her who she is today: an optimistic, nurturing soul, full of great compassion. Being a mother has been her hardest and most rewarding job since her unique and sensitive children have been her greatest inspiration and teachers. She is currently writing a series of children’s books for HSP families, The Sunshine Books. Follow the links in this blog for more of her heartfelt ponderings about highly sensitive people. Or sign-up above for her weekly emails as she continues writing for you.
{Copyright 2019 - 2021 - Most photos are the property of Tamara S. Graham unless noted otherwise}