The Four Streams that Led to Wholesome Children Books
Many people often ask how I came to write and publish "The Love Tank" and the upcoming books in the Wholesome Children: Self Awareness series. It's a bit challenging to explain because it's the result of a series of seemingly unrelated events that eventually converged. I like to think of these events as four different streams that merged to bring this project to life. In the future, I'll delve deeper into these stories and share the resources I discovered along the way. For now, let's briefly explore the four streams that led to the Wholesome Children Books Project:
Motherhood:
Becoming a mom to Olivia nearly five years ago turned my world upside down and changed me in ways I couldn't have predicted. It wasn't just Olivia who was born; a new version of me emerged. My once logical and analytical mind now gravitated more towards things like nurturing and intuition. I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and healing, aiming to address wounds we all carry, often passed down through generations. For instance, one of my own wounds was perfectionism, which led me to unknowingly demand perfection not just from myself but from those around me. Imagine how this affects a child's self-esteem! I couldn't subject Olivia or my loved ones to that pressure. This realization positively transformed many of my relationships.
Losing a Dear Friend to Depression and Substance Use:
The loss of a close friend to depression and substance use marked a turning point in my life. It prompted deep introspection as I tried to fathom what had led his beautiful soul to stop shining its light on the world. Did he carry unresolved childhood traumas? Was he, as a Latino gay man, burdened by self-doubt and an inability to fully accept and love himself? Was fear of rejection preventing him from revealing his authentic self? This loss left me heartbroken but also motivated to contribute to a kinder, more compassionate world where people can be themselves and love themselves unconditionally. My pledge was to create a space where children feel unconditionally loved, happy, and free to be authentic.
The Robb Elementary School Tragedy:
Another event that profoundly affected me was the Robb elementary school shooting, where children just a little older than Olivia lost their lives (Olivia was three at the time). This tragedy solidified my belief that our society faces deep-seated issues that demand collective action. As I wept upon hearing the news, Olivia walked into the room and asked why I was crying. How could I explain the horror of a school shooting to a child? That's when the concept of "The Love Tank" emerged. I began to explain the idea that we each have a "Love Tank" inside, filled by giving and receiving love. When our Love Tank is full, kindness flows naturally; when it's empty, kindness becomes harder. I told Olivia about people whose Love Tanks are completely empty and how they can do hurtful things. I cried because someone with an empty Love Tank had caused pain to others, which deeply saddened me.
A few days later, on a Saturday morning while lying in bed at 6 am (Olivia had crawled into our bed during the night), "The Love Tank" came to my mind. The first draft of the book was written on my cellphone as I lay there, not wanting to wake Olivia. When I shared it with people, including my supportive husband, they encouraged me to publish it. Friends even offered to help with illustrations and various aspects of the project. Eventually, someone connected me with "Self-Publishing Made Simple," a service for aspiring authors. My busy schedule at the time prevented me from exploring this further, so the idea rested in the back of my mind for a few months.
Becoming a Mom to Teo:
When I became a mom for the second time with the arrival of Teo, I sensed another significant shift. Perhaps life's way of redirecting my focus to what truly matters – the well-being of my children, which sits at the top of my priority list. This time, I was expecting a boy, which raised questions about raising a boy in a world brimming with toxic masculinity and the ensuing expectations on men. I wondered how I could contribute to nurturing happy, compassionate, loving, and kind-hearted children. I wanted to share with my children the messages that had helped me heal and become a better version of myself – messages of love, gratitude, authenticity, compassion, and connectedness. I pondered how to convey these messages in a way that children could easily grasp.
"The Love Tank" was a metaphor, and I began exploring other metaphors for these messages, discussing them with Olivia. During my maternity leave, I found more time to pursue publishing The Love Tank. I connected with various resources, including April, my publishing coach, Rita, our talented illustrator, Bobbie, our editor, Praise, our designer, and many others who contributed to making "The Love Tank" a reality. I LOVE the final result and take joy in knowing it's already making a difference in households worldwide.
We remain committed…
We remain committed to spreading the message of love and plan to launch books about gratitude, authenticity, and connectedness in the future – all written and edited, waiting for the right moment (publishing books, I discovered, requires more effort and resources than I initially thought).
If you haven't had the chance to read "The Love Tank" and share its message with your children, I encourage you to download the eBook, available on Amazon for just 99 cents. I want the message to reach as many people as possible: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9SC9C66/.
If you'd like to support us in this journey, please consider purchasing a print version of "The Love Tank" for your family or as a gift for others. Leaving a review on Amazon also plays a significant role in our efforts.
For those who have already shared "The Love Tank" with your children, what did you and your children enjoy most about it? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!