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Dear ,
My grandson Rhys (a Welsh name that rhymes with "peace" and means "enthusiasm") is here, as of 12:05 p.m. last Wednesday! Here are two photos to show he lives up to his name already:
And don't tell me that smile isn't real! And one more photo of my husband and me celebrating our new grandson:
Talk about falling in love! Oh, baby!
And speaking of babies, there is no one on earth I'd rather feature this week than WordPlayer Kathy Gruhn, whose My Baby Compass
program has a prominent place in Rhys's nursery and also in my heart. As Kathy's writing coach and editor, I had the privilege of "birthing" this wonderful series along with her.
We both remember like it was yesterday how she shared this idea she had for a series that would help parents to nurture their children's growth in all developmental areas and to know as soon as possible if there are any developmental concerns. My Baby Compass does just that in a warm, professional, engaging way. It's filled with activities to help children maximize their potential through play and interaction, lists each milestone a parent should be on the lookout for, and is that wonderful instructional manual parents wish babies were born with!
(And, no, I do NOT get ANY financial compensation for saying so -- I just love Kathy's written contribution to a loving world!) She's come a long way, baby! In fact, in her photo, she's standing with one of her mentors, Jack Canfield of the "Chicken Soup" series.
And I ask you -- what words of yours will you contribute to make this world a more loving place? (There are so many kinds of love, including humor, empathy, the sharing of sorrow, joy, and wit.) What writing dream will you birth? What better time to start than now?
The piece of Kathy's writing that I'm sharing is about how children develop language. A miracle, yes? And a gift. I can't wait to see what you will do with the gift and miracle of language!
Happy birthing,
Maureen
Upcoming WordPlay
DELICIOUS MEMORIES
COMING THIS MONDAY!
Food not only nurtures and sustains us, it's a rich source of metaphor and memory! We'll explore our connections with food as we write of when, where, what, with whom, how - and even why - we ate! You can use your food writings to create a family cookbook, creative nonfiction, poetry, a food blog, etc. -- or just for your own pleasure. $49/1 session.
WHERE:Queens Sports Complex, Tyvola Road near Park Road, Charlotte
WHEN: Monday, April 29, 6:30-9:00pm
TO REGISTER: http://www.queens.edu/Academics-and-Schools/Continuing-Education/Program-Categories/Writing---CE/Writing---Delicious-Memories-with-Maureen-Ryan-Griffin.html
For details about more 2013 offerings, visit
www.wordplaynow.com/current.htm.
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WordPlay Success Story
"
Having met the two most influential people in my life, Mother Teresa and Oprah, I have learned they had trials and tribulations; however, their passion and commitment to their work never waned. They are my role models. Mother Teresa's advice to me was, "Never be mediocre, be the best at what you do, whether it is making a cup of tea or healing the world." I have tried to follow these words, but I can't be the best I can be at writing if I do it alone. Thank goodness I have Maureen Ryan Griffin and my Under Construction group."
Meet WordPlayer Kathryn Thorson Gruhn,
the Positive Parenting Expert!
In 2006 my writing consisted of dictated Speech Pathology notes that were very objective. No descriptive words. Strictly scientific data. However, in my heart I knew I was a storyteller. I took Maureen's Under Construction class in the fall and I wrote a story called "Boots"
about my riding boots getting stuck. Maureen asked me to read it out loud in class and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I had no confidence. That was then...but now is now.
I have been taking the class ever since and I have written a child development program, My Baby Compass, that consists of: three manuals, fourteen booklets, a CD-ROM and an app, along with marketing dialogue consisting of a blog, TV scripts, magazine articles and an e-zine.
With the support of Maureen and my wonderful classmates, I have a second career as the Positive Parenting Expert. I am speaking professionally for groups and will be teaching continuing education classes. I am so proud of the My Baby Compass series. I have a five star rating on Amazon.com and I have over 50 testimonials from parents and professionals. I was more impressed when Dr. Sturner from Johns Hopkins Pediatric Hospital wanted to partner with me to include the information in CHADIS, an electronic version for pediatricians to be able to assess and enhance children's developmental milestones from birth to seven years of age.
I am now ghostwriting the story of an 85-year-old African American woman's experience growing up in the south. I am having a blast. I am also researching and will be writing the My Senior Compass series that will consist of three or four manuals to cover Dementia, Stroke, Traumatic Head Injury and Neurological diseases that affect a person's communication skills. I'm including personal stories from caregivers and professionals. Have any stories you'd like to share? Let Kathy know! And if you know anyone who has a child age birth to seven (or is expecting one) I heartily recommend My Baby Compass. Kathy has a free gift on her website for her visitors, too. Find out more here:
Website and blog: www.mybabycompass.com Facebook:
www.facebook.com/mybabycompass Twitter: www.twitter.com/mybabycompass
Featured Writing How Babies/Toddlers Learn to Talk by Kathryn Thorson Gruhn
Even before your baby knows he has a voice, he hears yours. That's the very first step of learning to talk. Babies start by babbling vowel sounds like "ah" and "eh." Soon they add consonants to the vowel sounds. They begin to form simple words like "da," "ma," "no" and "go." They get better at the four communication building blocks (reception, association, expression and memory) and are able to put more complex sounds together, forming bigger words and, eventually, combining them into short sentences as they grow.
It's important to remember that your baby's communication skills will improve in very small steps. You might not notice much change for a week or two, and then, all of a sudden, your toddler has two or three new words all at once. He has been developing skills all along as you have been talking and playing with him. These skills develop a little differently in every child. It's more important that they appear in sequence than that they happen by an exact time or age.
WordPlay Now! Writing Prompt
This is WordPlay -- so why not revel in the power and potential of one good word after another? This week, it's "baby."
Make a list of writing "babies" you'd like to birth. What stories would you like to tell? What experiences would you like to share? What knowledge would you like to contribute? What writing creations would bring you joy?
Now, pick one and begin. One word at a time, just like Kathy did. Give it your best, and watch your best get better. See how your project grows!
Want to be featured in a future Word-zine?
S
end in a piece of your writing that you think could inspire other WordPlayers to write. 500-word limit, please.) You can send something inspired by this writing, or anything else of your choosing. Email your words to WordPlay here and your piece may be chosen for a future Word-zine.
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MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and two collections of poetry, This Scatter of Blossoms
and When the Leaves Are in the Water. She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, "We are meant to midwife dreams for one another."
Maureen also believes that serious "word work" requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best learn -- and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours! |
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