Glow Word Books Blog

Holding a crying baby

One of the hardest parts of parenting has been holding a crying baby and simply waiting for him to stop crying.

Our little guy has gotten so tired that he forgets how to sleep. You can feel the tiredness in his heavy arms… see the anguish on his face… but nothing you do helps. You can’t make him fall asleep. You can’t sleep for him. You can only nudge him in the direction of sleep.

The first time I felt his little tears against my hand, it broke my heart. But it has also taught me a lot about empathy. Holding someone in pain — when there is nothing you can do to help — is a touching experience that helps you discover the meaning of true, unconditional love.

The Art Of Being A Kid

Courtesy kimberlynelsonphotography.com

I was always a fan of the Corinthians “love” verse at weddings. In fact, I even read it as a teen at my cousin’s wedding (and got asked afterwards if I was considering the ministry).

But since becoming a father, it doesn’t sit as well with me:

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

I think being a child or a man is a false choice. You don’t have to be one or the other. The best path is the middle ground (a man child? :)

Kids are jubilant and energetic. They don’t worry about making their bed when they get up because they’re too excited about pirates or rocket ships. As an adult, I don’t want to put those dreams of stars behind me. I think ideally we should day dream about the cosmos while we throw the comforter over the bed.

I started putting away my adult ways of thinking when I took improv classes at Comedy Sportz. It was such a relief to leave my day job of meetings and long term plans to think of rhymes for noggin’ or soap. Through improv, I have realized that bringing comedy, a childish heart and passion to my job not only makes work more productive, but it helps comradery and creative problem solving. (After figuring out how to capture a jello monster with a fishing net on stage, planning for a difficult software release is a piece of cake!)

Writing kids books has also been a connection to the carefree world of children. Kids don’t want to read about brushing teeth or putting dishes away… not when there are princesses, trolls and dragons in the world.

So I ask you to reconsider the idea of choosing a childish or adult life. Remember back to your dreams as kid? Back when there would never be anything cooler than dinosaurs. Then figure out how to bring that glee into your daily life.

How to Insert a Tampon (or Why I Quit Ballet)

When I first got my period, I was given a box of pads and tampons so I could decide which I preferred.

The problem was the tampons were ~~super hard~~ impossible to insert. I tried to use the instructional pamphlet, but it didn’t explain enough for me to understand.

I felt stuck.

Helpless.

I loved ballet, but was scared to continue taking lessons. I didn’t want to wear a leotard with my massive, bulky pads visible.

It took me almost 6 months to figure our how to insert a tampon. I realized that you use it more horizontally than straight up like I had imagined. I felt so relieved to figure that out… but by then I had quit ballet and missed out on a summer of swimming when I had my period.

As scary as it sounded at the time, I wished I had asked my mum about tampons. It’s much better to go through an awkward 5 minute conversation than dread your period for the next six months! I gave up something I loved and feel alone because I lacked the courage to ask a question.

If you’re a teen, talk to your mother. They can answer questions better than any corporate pamphlet. I promise it won’t be as embarrassing as you think it will be!

How I got the most candy on Halloween

I loved trick-or-treating for years longer than I should have — but the allure of a night where I could find unlimited candy at my neighbors’ doorsteps was too much. Getting the most quality candy was always mission, so I thought I would share some of my tips.

Trick or treat in a group. I’m sure my parents insisted on that for safety, but I loved it because you could trade your candy with everyone at the end of the night. If you got enough people together in a group someone was bound to love Tootsie Rolls more than M&Ms. My mission was to find that person and make sure nobody else knew their preference. You can even strike trading agreements before you leave.

Trick or Treat in a figure 8 or clover leaf. If you trick or treat in small loops going in different directions from your home, it’s easier to swing by home to drop off your current loot or go to the bathroom. (There’s no need to get a snack since you’re walking around with a bucket of sugar.)

Exchange candy with your parents. Odds are your parents give away candy… so why not trade your junk to them for half-way-decent candy… let your parents give out the bad stuff to unsuspecting kids.

Exchange candy in the take-a-piece bowl. There was inevitably one or two families near my house that would always have a take-a-piece bowls (but only one because the great goblin is watching) left on their stoop. It always felt like stealing to take a whole handful, but the sign never said anything about trading with the bowl… so unload your Circus Peanuts because something in the bowl has to be better.

Memorize last year’s dead zones. Some houses think it’s cool to give soda (but that’s heavy to carry), raisins, or toothbrushes. Remember these houses so you can steer clear next year.

Be on the look out for parents clearing their bowl. Shortly before some parents shut off the porch lights, they dump the remainder of their bowls in a lucky Halloween bucket. Listen to the grapevine for stories of these houses and try to position yourself to be the jackpot recipient.

Happy Trick or Treating!

The Joy Of Milk

My son loves milk. When he starts to drink it, his whole face lights up… he is completely focused… he smacks and savors it… there is nothing in his world aside from milk when he’s drinking.

What a great way to live! I’m inspired by his enthusiasm. I adore his commitment. He is 100% zen in the moment. The tears are forgotten. Worries don’t exist. He is blissed out enjoying what he loves. His passion flood his existence.

I hope as a parent I never rob him of this mentality.

The more I watch him, the more I think babies are born perfect.

Why I couldn’t be a writer at fourteen

In English class when I was thirteen, we had to write a short (very short) novel. Here is the blurb I wrote about myself for the cover:

Steve wrote this novel when he was in the eigth grade. This is his first novel (or long story). He enjoys writing, but doesn’t think he will be an author when he “grows up.”

If you liked this novel and want to read more novels by this author then you are stuck. He hasn’t written any other others.

I feel very sad when I read that self description. I hadn’t learned anything about creative writing, but I had already told myself it wasn’t for me… even though I loved it.

As easy as it is to simply sit down and write, emotionally it took ten years to master. I needed to believe in myself enough to follow my passion.

Writing my first book was very cathartic. It helped me over come a lot of self-doubt…. my forcing myself to sit down and write I realized I was able to. The only person who had been stopping me was me.

So be grateful for passion. Whatever your passion is, enjoy it and never it for granted….

My first fancy dessert

When I was 17, my parents took me to my first fancy restaurant. I had been to places that had beautiful place-settings… folded napkins… multiple forks… but I had never been to a place that saw food as an art form.

We ate foods on sticks that shouldn’t have been on sticks. Everything was stacked on something with a different color sauce drizzled across and a spice dusting here or there. I was inspired. Why couldn’t our goulash look like this?

When the waiter asked if we wanted dessert, my sister and I made the cutest, saddest, hungriest eyes we could and my parents agreed to split a chocolate souffle with everyone.

I had never tried a souffle before, but the waiter assure me it would be like a “chocolate cake”… but cake didn’t even begin to describe the bliss. The edges were crisp. The cake was tender and delicate. And the center was filled with a molten chocolate that leaked out like my fork had just hit a chocolate artery. I was in heaven.

I had never eaten a dessert prepared so artistically before. When the waiter asked if there was anything else he could get us, I joked that I wanted the recipe for that “cake.” He agreed and hurried off to the kitchen.

What had I done? The conversation around the table turned to hushed inquiries about if the recipe was free or I had just added thousands of dollars to the bill. As the waiter approached the table, my parents asked how much the recipe cost. They happened to give out two recipes on the menu and this was one of them. (I must not be the only person who loved that cake!). So here is the Chocolate Souffle Recipe that almost got me seriously grounded. I have never been able to re-create it like they did, but it is still delicious.

Chocolate Souffle Recipe

6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
4 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate
¼ cup Sugar
1¼ Tbsp Corn Starch
2 eggs + 2 egg yolks

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and chocolate together. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar and cornstarch. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and yolks together. Add the melted butter-chocolate mixture to the sugar mixture and combine thoroughly with a wire whisk. Stir in the eggs and whisk just until smooth. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 4 metal rings (about 2.75 inches across and 2 inches high) with greased parchment paper. (Alternative, use 6 smaller molds.) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the molds on the sheet. Scoop the mixture into the molds so they are two-thirds full, and make sure the molds are not leaking.

Bake on the top oven rack for 20 minutes or until there is about a nickel/dime sized center of uncooked batter. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and while holding each mold with tongs, slide a metal spatula underneath, carefully lift, and transfer to a serving plate. Gently lift off the mold and remove the parchment paper. Serve immediately.

Blossom Gets Her First Period

Blossom Logo courtesy of Wikipedia and NBC.

In the show Blossom, the main character has to deal with the embarrassment brought on by buying tampons. To her horror a boy from school happens to be the cashier. Luckily her best friend, Six, brings some over after she fails to buy any.

Blossom wished she had a mother she could ask questions to about her period. (Her mother didn’t live at home.) This episode highlights not only how important it is for young girls to have someone who they can talk to about the transitions in their life, but also how that may not always be their mother. The definition of “mother” for everyone is completely different.

It was heart warming for me that Six offered her own mother for Blossom to talk to… and how Six was there a friend. This episode highlights why we need a circle of woman to share our knowledge. Every woman has had a different experience and is uniquely suited to help someone else.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of women in my world, but there may be in someone else’s world… so share your knowledge. It never hurts to start a dialog.

Glow Word Books Blog

Authors Steve & Natasha