It’s not often I share a review about two amazing books in the same week. Apparently, this is your lucky day.
Empty Nest–Strategies to Help Your Kids Take Flight is a book you’ll want to have in your mom-library. Author, Marci Seither, is a writer I know personally and recommend highly. Here’s just a tiny morsel from her back cover:
‘All of a sudden, the nest is empty. The birds have gone, and what had been a constant blur of activity is now nothing more than a few discarded feathers. Silence mutes all that was colorful and it is time to reestablish our significant place in an ever-changing world.’
I’m just tickled that after she’s worked writing a newspaper column in her hometown and after being awarded Guidepost’s prestigious writer’s workshop award (twice) she’s putting pen to paper in book form.
Just this week I was at the grocery store to purchase FOUR graduation cards. Yep, two nieces and two of my friend’s kids will be on their way to college in a matter of weeks. I’ve been there. It’s a BIG transition — not only for a young adult, but for the parent left behind. Empty Nest is chock full of tools to encourage a parent through this tough season and includes chapters: Changing Seasons, College Bound, Military Minded, Rediscovering Significance, and even one about creative packaging and staying in touch.
Seither is a mom of six, so this girl knows what she’s talking about when she gives tips and bits of wisdom to moms and dads who are helping their chicks fly the coop. And, have I mentioned how funny she is? While I was writing my manuscript for The Mean Mom’s Guide to Raising Great Kids, I contacted Marci for one of her stories I wanted to include in my book, I knew she could make my readers bust a gut. That’s how much I love her writing.
An Empty Nest is a place we will all get to eventually. So happy to see this book exists to help me with my last two at home. I have a feeling all my future graduation cards will be sent along with this precious book. Why do I love this author’s writing so much? She’s honest, transparent and shares from the deep well of mothering that I sometimes take for granted–godly wisdom earned in the trenches of motherhood. Author, Marci Seither, is a gem and this book is, too.
Excerpt from Empty Nest – Strategies to Help Your Kids Take Flight
The “S” word…Satisfied.
_______________________________
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalms 90:14
___________________________________________
For several years I was been able to convince my oldest three kids that Trick or Treating was about getting dressed up and handing out candy when other dressed up people came to the door. So every year they would get dressed up as cowboys, barn yard animals, or pirates and wait for the doorbell to ring. This worked great, however, when they were about ten, nine and seven they discovered that being the recipient of the candy was the real game plan.
Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where we were living at the time, was a small mid-west town where people still handed out cellophane wrapped pop-corn balls, homemade cookies and big candy bars.
Kids wore thermal underwear or sweat pants under their costumes to stay warm and ran from door to door. Most parents, slowly drove behind them in a heated vehicle, which is exactly what I did. They not only did Nathan, Emma and Mark look adorable dressed as a hobo, a princess and an undercover agent, but they quickly learned that if they sang “Trick or Treat” in three part harmony their delighted hosts would double their rations.
In less than an hour, my three troubadours had each filled their plastic pumpkins, and all their pockets. Being the practical tight wad that I am, I quickly separated out half of the loot, threw it in a zip lock bag and saved it for Christmas stockings. Hey, why buy more candy, when I was going to need to offset the cost of new toothbrushes and perhaps minor dental work.
A few days later, we were all loaded into the Suburban for the short drive to church. We had just left home when one of the kids spotted a miniature bite-sized Snickers bar on the floor.
In three part harmony they all shrieked “MINE’. Nothing quite sets the mood for worship like a knock-down, drag-out fight between siblings on the way to church.
“Hey you guys, work it out.” I said in my calm voice. Yeah, like that was going to really work. We are talking chocolate. More to the point: one chocolate. Then, half way turning my head I repeated a little louder, “Get a grip. I mean it. Stop fighting!” Finally, I looked squarely into the eyes of my three sugar overloaded heathens and through gritted teeth said, “GIVE ME THE CANDY – NOW!”
Slowly the candy bar was passed over the seat and into my out stretched hand. I am not an advocate of being a litter bug, but something inside me snapped. I rolled down the window and pitched that little mini with a quick snap. Not only did it drop the temperature in the car at least forty degrees, but our kids were shocked. Almost in slow motion it seemed that the tiny morsel floated passed the windows of our moving vehicle. All three kids extended a hand in its direction as if to wave a solemn farewell. The despair in their eyes conveyed the thought that drifted though their greedy little minds, “We should have shared”.
For the next two years every time we would pass by that little stretch of road the kids would look toward the ditch and wonder whatever happened to their lost treasure.
Note to self: Being satisfied and grateful is something that we need to live out in the home so that when our kids are launched out into the world they will understand fully what it is to sing for joy…and maybe, just maybe, it will be in three part harmony!
Coleen says
I am so glad I looked you up today! I may need to get this book, since my oldest is graduating in a few short weeks, and even though I still have two little ones at home, I have seen how quickly the time passes. I hope you are doing well. Keep up the great writing! Hugs to you!