Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks

Words that Make Me Smile

From a reader today:

"Your book. One word. ........... TREASURE!!!!!!!

Grand job Cay. GRAND. I will cherish this book.  Thank you."

You are SO welcome!

More Picture-Perfect Reviews

Thank you, Karen.

Thank you, Alicia.

A comment from Marianne: "I agree that the book is wonderful! I received mine today and kept sneaking peeks during my kids' basketball games. The variety and selection of books is incredible - and I've been homeschooling and digging around for living books for 7 years now. I can't wait to use the check mark boxes - that is a fun element to have in there. Thank you for your work!"

I Love Warm Fuzzies and Being Linked to Gladys Hunt

"I am thrilled with your book, Cay! This is in no way a surprise, of course, but it is so much more than I really expected. Even with getting to preview some of the pages online, I didn't expect the warm fuzzies I got from the book. :-) This has reaffirmed and organized a vision with picture books for our home. I am really excited about having this resource for the variety of times and topics that you focused on. Anyone who has been putting off buying this book, wait no more! This is a booklist that you will hardly find anywhere else. Bravo, Cay!"  ~ Monica in FL

"I got my book yesterday! I got it out of the mailbox on my way to my daughter's library book club. Before I even got to look at it my friend confiscated it for the next 2 hours and had already used its booklists to find books from the libraries bookshelves. I love it. She loved it ....and will be ordering her own copy. Now that I have gotten it back, my library card is also filling with requests. Thank you so much Cay. I haven't felt like this since reading Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt. The love and magic of children's literature !" ~ Cindy in CA

To read more reviews on A Picture Perfect Childhood go here:  PPC Reviews

Ordering information can be found in the lefthand sidebar of my blog or at Lulu.com .

Just Another Book?

I'm not sure I'm like other writers. 

I often wonder if the work I've created is worth any use to anyone else.  I wonder if it's God's will...or my own.  I wonder if my work is taking up wasted space on someone's bookshelf.  I wonder if my work is creating clutter in someone's home.  I wonder if anyone is reading it cover to cover.  I wonder if anyone likes it.  I wonder if I have needlessly destroyed countless acres of forest.  I wonder if readers will think it's just another book of booklists.  I wonder if my thoughts are adding more simplistic ideas to a mother's already overloaded stack of laundry, school papers, school books, dirty dishes, grocery list, own thought process, etc.  and only increasing her level of guilt that she is not able to "do it all".

I guess that's why I'm a writer.  I wonder too much.  LOL

That's why your letters and reviews and comments have comforted me so much.  I cannot begin to tell you all how much. 

I wanted to continue sharing Aileen's thoughts with those of you who might be wondering (like I always do) if A Picture Perfect Childhood is yet another book to stack on top of  everything else you "have to do", "have to read", "have to see", "have to teach" with your children.

I'm sure Aileen's thoughts will help you to see that A Picture Perfect Childhood is much more than that.  And I really want you to know (and I hope some readers will chime in) that PPC is not just another book of lists.  I hope and pray that it offers you a lot more to think about than just a series of booklists. 

*****

Aileen writes:

"I wanted also to make a very general point which I've become aware since starting your book. 

"There are many things in life which I know are good and worthy endeavors.  Some of which I would consider actually even critical to the upbringing and formation of my kids.  For instance, teaching my kids the seven virtues is one of the critical endeavors.  So actually, is reading to them, as well as spending time with them when we are physically and emotionally close.  Your book has given me a path to accomplish all three of these truly critical (not just "good" or "worthy," but crucial) aspects of raising these creatures the good Lord blessed me with. 

"I knew that I should be doing these things.  My problem comes with starting the task.  How in the world do I do these things?  It's like wanting to cook a really nice Thanksgiving meal.  Cooking is not my thing at all.  When I get started, I actually enjoy it.  But the shopping and then finding the equipment and then timing it.  It becomes this huge task that I shy away from. 

"So too can be the task of doing what we know we need to do for our kids.  How do I begin?  How do I teach virtues? More lectures (would that even work)? What books do I get?  How much time do I spend?  I need help!  You've not just written the recipe.  But you've told us why we should cook this recipe, how to do the shopping, what equipment to use...and mostly to enjoy the process.  You've taken our hands and said, "See, I was afraid once too, I know how you feel. But, 'be not afraid,' it can be done and I'll show you how."

"You have given me a sense of relief and peace.  But most - look at the gift you have given my children.  Thank you, thank you!"

*****

Thank you to each of you who have written to me, written reviews and given me an equally sincere "sense of relief and peace".  When I began putting A Picture Perfect Childhood together I knew that I believed in this little book and loved what it offered.  I knew (and wildly hoped) that it would bless other families.  Your feedback has allowed this writer to "wonder" a little less and simply to embrace God's plan with a little more peace and gratitude.

Leave a Handprint on Your Child's Life

Reviews like this are meant to be shared and I am blessed that Aileen is allowing me to share her letter.

A Picture Perfect Childhood was never meant just for parents who educate within the home.  It was written for all parents.  It was written to motivate parents to leave a "handprint" on their child's learning and, thus, his life.  Aileen gets this and I'm so grateful that she does. Thank you so much, Aileen.

She writes: 

"I received the book ( A Picture Perfect Childhood) today...and oh how wonderful!

"I don't know where to begin.  All I can say is God bless you Cay Gibson.  Not just for what you've done in researching and writing - but for sharing your own experiences as a mother.  I'm actually highlighting parts of this book.  And four years in medical school taught me only to highlight what is crucial (otherwise you end up highlighting everything).  Well, in this book you've given me words that I will repeat to myself, wisdom that would have taken me many years (if ever!) to achieve.

"For now, the Edmund Gosse quote is wonderful. And, the part where you point out that no parent could deny their child 15 minutes per day. You are gentle and eloquent...but blunt. Thank you and God bless you Cay Gibson!

"I think you have done something so ingenious.  What you have done is managed to reach out a loving, guiding hand...a mother's hand to ALL  of us.  By that I mean, working moms and stay-at-home-moms.  Even more difficult perhaps, I think you've probably managed to reach out to homeschoolers and "traditional" schoolers. 

"I often think about homeschooling, but we have a wonderful Catholic school and I've been very happy with it thus far.  However, I am the primary educator of my child not just in faith, but in life.  I find it so hard to squeeze MY teaching into their day.  They are tired.  They have homework. They have been doing academic, didactic lessons all day. How do I teach them but also spend good time with them?  I thought I had to pick.  I thought I basically had to forgo just having some loving, fun time with them, in order to give more lessons...but lessons that I thought were crucial. 

"What you have done is show us that these books are the teachers!  We can sit and love our kids and read these books.  The lessons will sink in.  We don't have to lecture - just take an activity that we would do anyway (read), but do it your way. 

"I feel this sense of relief so great!  I can still have great impact and send them to school.  Naturally everything I do teaches them (for better or for worse)...but you have laid forth a more structured program that is helping me spend the fun time with them and teach them at the same time.  It's sort of like disguising your dog's medicine in peanut butter.  He doesn't realize he just got something so good for him, something that he needs...he just knows that it tastes good. :-)

"I can only guess - but it must be hard for homeschoolers as well.  Perhaps they have all day to do this sort of thing with their children...I don't know.  I'm guessing though that they are extremely busy teaching the basics as well. 

"To just sit and read becomes a luxury for all of us.  But your point is - it doesn't and shouldn't be a luxury.  It's a necessity.  Just make it so!  And so we are.  And so, I, a non-homeschooler, feel that I have a far greater impact on their learning.  I am happy with their teachers and their schoolday...but now my handprint is on their daily learning as well.  Thank you Cay!"

Thank you, Aileen!

More "Picture Perfect" Reviews

Musings of A Picture Perfect Childhood.  Thank you, Prairie Girl!

A "rich literary experience" .  Thank you, Kris!

Picture Perfect Indeed.  Thank you, Maria!

Another "Picture Perfect" Review

Paula says PPC is already a favorite of hers.

Thank you, Paula.

So Nice!

"Cay,
I just wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying your new book -- I
feel like a kid in a candy store with all the different lists in one
place, and ideas to present my children for each month and season. Yesterday, I went to the library and came home with a bunch of books and I ordered some books through the inter-loan system. I can't wait for the days of February to unfold to share these new found treasures with my boys.

"Wonderful -- will easily be one of my most reached for resources.
Thank you.
Julia"

Thank you, Julia.

To see some of the lists, Julia is talking about, go to: Preview A Picture Perfect Childhood

You will not want to miss all the Pancake books for today: Shrove Tuesday

A Reader Writes...

"I'm reading A Picture Perfect Childhood and it's speaking to my heart!  In many ways it is exactly what I needed to help with struggles I've been having with our education journey.  I desperately needed something to breath some new life into our learning and your book is rejuvenating me.  I'm once again feeling excited and energized about what we're doing and where we are going.  I know it is a book that I will go back to over and over again.  Thanks so much for writing it!!"

God Bless you and your family.

TK from Houston

Another "Picture Perfect" Review

Mary has written a great review of A Picture Perfect Childhood.

Thank you, Mary!