A Trip For Slowey
Some of the authors that write for my publisher, Spry Publishing are sharing stories of what writing means to them - it sounded like fun so I thought that I would join in.
I wrote my first book in grade school for something called the Young Authors Conference. That book took first place in my class - remember when everyone didn’t win - and I recall being ushered to the front of the classroom where my teacher spoke a few words about my accomplishment and then handed me what she considered to be my prize, a blue ribbon.
But that ribbon wasn’t the prize.
The next day our school librarian collected all of the winning titles from throughout the building and put them on her book trolley. The trolley would visit each class and students were given a chance to read the winning books in their classrooms. This was my prize!
I loved to imagine that someone was curled up with my book, ‘A Trip for Slowey’. You see Slowly was a turtle from a small pond who dreamt of something better, but when he took off to find excitement and adventure… all he found was the striking lesson that there was no place like home. I wrote that when I was six years old, I had to dig it out of a closet just now to remember what it was about because my only memory of that book was the joy that I felt when I imagined it being read.
Many years later I began to write about my life as the father of a child who lives with type 1 diabetes. If I had to act as my own psychiatrist for a moment, I’d say that I probably began to write online about type 1 as an outlet for my emotional pain. Soon after the blog went live, I heard back from one of my first readers and their message was one that informs what I do to this day. My sharing was helping her. I wrote something that she identified with. The knowledge that she wasn’t as alone in the world as she felt, was physically and emotionally freeing. I finally found the joy from my childhood as an adult, and it’s a joy that only comes from sharing my thoughts in an intimate way with others. Writing allows that intimacy unlike any other form of communication. Written words follow an unspoken path that begins in the writer’s heart, and with some luck, ends in the reader’s.
Though I don’t want to give short-shrift to ‘A Trip for Slowey’ and other elementary school award winners like, ‘Star Wanted to be a Star and ‘Grammy and the Green Ford’, eventually the blog led to my first book.
As a child, my only goal for writing was to get my book on that trolley. Today, I just hope that something that’s floating around in my head can create a moment of sameness with another person. I’ve seen now first-hand what that connection looks like, I no longer need to imagine someone reading my words. There is no purer feeling then the return I experience when exposing my thoughts in writing, leads to a stranger find themselves in those words.
That energy takes away my fear and fills the void with a satisfaction and warmth that it impossible to replicate. It recharges me so that I can do it again. Writing is my own personal self-sustain engine that powers me so I that can try to empower you.
Spry Publishing is leading the way in diabetes resources: check out Spry’s diabetes titles at www.sprypub.com/diabetes/ . Hurry! If you order in November you’ll receive 50% off your book by using the code “Diabetes50”.
21 Things I Learned Being a Stay-at-Home Dad
I don't know how to best say this, so I'm just going to blurt it out. If you have never seen, or had, a pelvic exam, let me tell you something -- it's not how you imagine it.
If you were just thinking that what this Father's Day really needs is an Internet post full of life lessons from a stay-at-home dad who wrote a book (that won a literary parenting award), boy, did you click on the right link. If that's not what you were thinking, I'd read this anyway because not only do I say vagina about halfway down the page, but also there's some meaningful stuff on this list. Let's face it, who would you rather take advice from, an award-winning author who says "vagina" or those stuffy expert types? Happy Father's Day!
21 Things I Learned Being a Stay At Home Dad for the Last 14 Years.
- Plainly, sorting the laundry, folding the laundry and putting away the laundry is the scourge of my existence.
- I'd always wanted to have children, but I was unprepared for how the news that I would soon be a father would affect me. I immediately began to imagine all the things that I would need to do and instantly felt the pressure of another person's life depending on me.
- Putting a baby in your wife's belly gets you an invitation to her OB/GYN appointments.
- I don't know how to best say this, so I'm just going to blurt it out. If you have never seen, or had, a pelvic exam, let me tell you something -- it's not how you imagine it.
- When your wife (or really any woman) asks for your opinion about baby accessories, she is just being polite. I may be overgeneralizing, but they don't care, even a little bit, what you think. And, to be honest, it's probably better that way.
- I didn't initially expect that I would become more emotional than I already was, but this job will change you.
- Don't eat Doritos before you coach your wife through childbirth and definitely don't forget to have your mother leave the room when the baby arrives... my wife is still annoyed that my mom saw her vagina.
- Once you've feel it, you'll never forget how warm and thick baby vomit is.
- You can drop a baby without hurting them -- if you get a lucky bounce.
- Everyone should watch a lion eat with their 2-year-old.
- Dangerous elements aside, don't try and control which experiences get to be part of the recipe that creates who your children will be one day.
- Endless decisions are made and carried out by our moms in homes all around the world. Each step holds the hope of survival, growth and prosperity, but as important and plentiful as these women and their work are, it goes unseen by most.
- You can't bank sleep, so enjoy it when you can.
- There is no such thing as gender specific tasks.
- When my children become adults and find themselves reflecting on our time together, I want the feeling to endure more than the words themselves. Like the difference between being told that you are loved and the feeling of being hugged by a person who loves you. I want them to feel my hug wrapping around them... always.
- Most guys wish that they had a closer relationship with their fathers. Break that cycle.
- Life really is about the pauses in between the moments.
- Being told that your child will require an infusion of man-made insulin multiple times throughout the day and night to stay alive is devastating.
- Don't stop and don't give up.
- I was estranged from my father for most of my life and only reconnected with him in his last few years... I wish we had found each other again much sooner.
- If you open your heart, your family will fill it with a glorious feeling that transcends description.
Excerpted (blurbed really) from LIFE IS SHORT, LAUNDRY IS ETERNAL by Scott Benner. Copyright © 2013 by Scott Benner. Excerpted with permission by Spry Publishing LLC.
Interview: Conversations in Care
That was one jam-packed hour of parenting and type I diabetes talk.
Thanks to Tami Neumann of Conversations In Care for having me on her show!
Conversations In Care
Tonight at 8 PM est.
I'll be doing a live one hour interview tonight at 8 PM est with host, Tami Neumann. We'll be talking about type I diabetes caregiving, parenting and my book, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal'.
Listeners are invited to call-in to ask questions, participate in the conversation or just heckle me. Hope to talk to you tonight!
646-478-4343
2013 in Pictures
2013 was a good one around here. New diabetes technology, improved A1c, and what seemed like non-stop interviews and talking about my book.
I want my family to know how much I appreciate the support and patience that they showed me as 'Life Is Short' consumed my year, this blog, and my life. I don't think that I've ever felt more blessed than I did on the day I realized that becoming a published author caused my children consider that anything in life is possible. This accomplishment wasn't reached alone.
First, my family let me write without guilt or pressure - I can't thank them enough for being so generous. Speaking of generosity, no publishing company in the world was going to ask me write a book without each and every one of you. Make no mistake, it is the support that you show everyday when you visit Arden's Day, that made my book a reality. Please know that I am completely aware of, and two million percent grateful for your continued readership.
In a few days I'll be posting a list of my favorite blog post from 2013 and then I'll be diving back into my second book (The one that Spry Publishing is very kindly not calling to tell me that I'm behind on). After I finish writing the book, I'll be getting back to blogging regularly here and even expanded my online writing a bit... look for my parenting column on Huffington Post sometime very soon... I'm so excited about being asked to contribute to HuffParents!