Doggy & Kitty Switcharoo

How to Put Yourself in Someone Else's ... Paws:

MY CHILDHOOD DOGS AND CATS were sources of endless entertainment. First I had a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named "Dusty". Her favorite activities were puppy paddling in the lake, and digging for rocks. She was a wonderful companion. 

     Then we added two kittens on to our family.  The cats did a LOT of things differently than the doggy. And I had a LOT of questions about pet care. Why can't the cats go outside on a leash? Why can't the dog use the litter box?  Why aren't Dusty and the kitties getting along? I tried to organize several "matchmaking-meetups" for my pets based on what I thought would be common interests, like Deli-Meat-Picnics and Fur Grooming Makeovers!!! None of these forced pet setups were very successful though . . .

My dog "Dusty" and my two kitties!

     But after some time, Dusty and the kitties got used to one another. I even caught them cuddling and taking naps together when nobody was looking. I learned a lot about caring for others by caring for my pets. Now for the podcast, I was very eager to write a fun story about silly pets. So I looked to other beloved stories from past for some plot ideas.

     Stories of characters switching places are tales as old as time. They continue to be told over and over. From “The Prince and the Pauper” to Lucy and Ricky “Job Switching” on I Love Lucy. What I like about these stories is that they are exercises in empathy. It has always been helpful for to me when dealing with conflict to imagine the other person's daily life. What are their struggles? Their challenges? Their intentions that inform their decisions and points of view? The adage "walk a mile in my shoes" endures for a reason and can be applied to so many situations, not only for adults but for kids too. Siblings, Partners, Co-Workers, heck even pets! Learning this lesson when we are young can help us to grow stronger in our relationship skills. I think it's a lesson that needs to be a priority in order to achieve success and happiness . . . and help us avoid fighting like cats and dogs!

Fun Links:

Activities for Teaching Children Empathy

Lucy Switching Jobs

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Quil's Postcards: Lava Park Adventure

How Friends Can Make You Brave:

QUIL IS BACK! This time we get to see what an amusement park looks like in outer space. Now here is my confession: I am TOTALLY vicariously living through Quil in these stories. This is pure fun and fantasy for my inner child. I ALWAYS wanted to go to a theme park as a kid. So now I get to go to one on another planet! I also really enjoy getting to spend some time and getting to know a character across multiple stories. In this installment, Quil has a birthday party at a Lava Park.  Our space friend is at a very special age, (7 Earth years), where friendship is MAGICAL!  

     I love that time in a child’s life when they are too young to care about romance or even the concept of popularity. They just love their friends. I had a few really special friends in my childhood. I remember spending several nights in a row at each other's houses. We wanted to do everything together, like tee-ball, summer camp, and birthday parties! I miss those kinds of relationships now. Adults don’t really do the slumber party thing anymore. At least not on a regular basis. So it has been really fun as a writer to revisit those kinds of childhood friendships in the Quil stories.

     Quil has some really special friends named Bula and Nova. They are inspired by two of my friends from childhood who were: A.) Really daring, B.) Really good at sports and C.) really supportive and patient with me even though I was neither A or B, but instead, was D.) a TOTAL WHIMP!!! Bula and Nova have that same kind of friendship with Quil.  I especially like that they motivate Quil to try new things, like going down a LAVA SLIDE!!! I can't wait to see what adventure little space buddies will have next!!! Friends are outta this world!

Thank YOU for being a friend!

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Fun Links:

Some Advice about Friendship

Another Cool Space Podcast

Chilly the Snowman

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How to Love Snow Like a Kid:

AH SNOW. . . My feelings about snow have really evolved since my childhood. As an adult living in Maine, the snow piling up can feel like such a burden. Snowbanks are like obstacles you need to move out of the way or navigate your car around.

      But as a child… a big snowbank looks like hours of fun! It can be a slide, a sculpture, and of course a snow fort!!! I spent so much time playing out in the snow. I don’t even remember feeling that cold as a kid. The biggest obstacle between kids and playing in the snow, is putting on all the snow gear! Boots, hats, mittens, and of course... the dreaded snowsuit! Who can forget Randy from A Christmas Story “I CAN’T PUT MY ARMS DOWN!” I certainly had my fair share of falling in the snow and being unable to move from all of my cumbersome winter gear! So many things to put on and keep track of. My little brother lost so many gloves and hats that my Dad referred to the lost and found as his “locker”. But oh boy, is it worth it! There’s just nothing like playing in the snow.

     This time of year many families are on break for the holidays. It can be really hard to get enough time outdoors when it’s cold out. But I think it’s always good for the body and the mind to spend time outside. I wanted to write a story for kids that would get them pumped about playing out in the snow. So bundle up! Get outside! Move and shake like you are Chilly!

My brother Tony & I playing in the snow during the 1991 "Halloween Nor'easter"

 

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Fun Links:

Fun Activities To Do in the Snow

A Video of Adorable Animals Playing in the Snow