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Dear Parents,
This is the first in what will become a series of books designedto suggest subjects worthy of discussion with your children as theymature in their curiosity about important life issues. As adults wethink the way adults do, and we often forget how we thought as children. We have forgotten some of our fears, worries, complaints, and confusions, which were products of our innocence and fantasies colliding with real-life experiences and challenges.
One of the most important means of showing our children that we love and care about them is to understand how they think and what they feel. In doing so, we reinforce them on their journey through life and give them a solid road map to guide them through life's challenging terrains. The best way to understand and help our children is to talk with them.
Reading Why Do You Love Me? to your children will open the door to incredible and moving discussions on love as both a feeling and a responsibility.
From one parent to another, I hope you'll be moved.
Shalom, Dr. Laura Schlessinger
A young boy asks his mother why she loves him and learns that her love is unconditional.
Sammy's mother finished his bedtime story and kissed him on the tip of his nose. This always made Sammy smile. "I love you," she said.
Sammy smiled again and looked at her.
"Why do you love me?" he asked.
This made Mother smile. "Why do you think I love you?" she asked.
Sammy thought for a moment. "Because I'm so good at karate?" he asked....
"No," said Mother.
"You mean you don't care what I do?" asked Sammy.
"I care very much," said Mother. "I'm proud of you for trying your best, I love to see you having fun.... But these are not the reasons I love you."
"Why not?" asked Sammy.
"Because you don't have to be good at karate, or first in a race, or always neat and tidy for me to love you," said Mother.
Copyright © 1999 HarperCollins Publishers
In her first children's book, acclaimed author and radio personality Laura Schlessinger brings us a heartwarming story about the unconditional love parents have for their children.
Laura Schlessinger: It's so important for parents to talk to and with their children. There are difficult and scary and uncomfortable issues which sometimes leave parents tongue-tied. This series of books will help parents dialogue with their kids in loving, fun, touching, sensitive, and informative ways. This, hopefully, will help the children on their search for truth/life/understanding/et cetera and help bring mom, dad, and bunchkins closer.
Laura Schlessinger: Of course! This book is a way for parents to learn to dialogue with their kids about things/feelings/behaviors they may not be sure or comfortable about.
Laura Schlessinger: I came up with this idea over seven years ago after a discussion (impromptu) with my son Deryk. At the time I had never written any kind of book and enlisted the assistance of Martha Lambert (a friend of mine from a TV show) who had written children's material. I told her what to "say," and she put it on paper. In the interim I have learned how to "do it by myself" and will be writing solo from now on.
Laura Schlessinger: This book is the first of a series (the next is BUT I WAAANNT IT!). This is the age range (three to seven or eight) in which it is so important to teach the values necessary for life. Later is too late!
Laura Schlessinger: Sammy will be getting a little sister...and as time goes on you'll meet the extended family, neighbors, et cetera.
Laura Schlessinger: Oh, G-d -- do you want a book? All kidding aside, we adults take "stuff" for granted -- ideas/feelings that we imagine they must know or understand. Questions about morality, G-d, behaviors under interesting dilemma-filled moments, et cetera. There is no end.
Laura Schlessinger: Mr. Cat. Notice -- sometimes he looks "stuffed" and sometimes he looks "alive." Ohhhhhhh.
Laura Schlessinger: This "share" nonsense is so destructive to children. Parents are supposed to teach and role-model. They are not supposed to burden their children with their peccadillos, problems, naughty history, et cetera. These are adult burdens.
Laura Schlessinger: Dan McFeeley was recommended by a mutual acquaintance. He did some demo pictures, and I thought he perfectly caught my point and personality.
Laura Schlessinger: Covetousness, sibling rivalry, fear, courage, loyalty, compassion, generosity, death, obligation, vows, commitments, promises, rage....
Laura Schlessinger: "I'm really disappointed that you did that because you hurt someone's feelings/let me down when you made a promise, et cetera is a way of conveying your expectation and disapproval. No -- Deryk is much cuter.
Laura Schlessinger: Yup -- universal appreciation...and I'm gratified and appreciative that my intentions have been met with such positive reaction.
Laura Schlessinger: Parents are responsible for their minor children's actions. I realize that children are adults-in-training -- but let's not forget who is supposed to do that training.
Laura Schlessinger: That they be protected from all the powerful activist groups that rob them of their innocence, safety, and moral development.
Laura Schlessinger: Next year: THE TEN STUPID THINGS PARENTS DO TO MESS UP THEIR KIDS.
Laura Schlessinger: Later this year.
Laura Schlessinger: It would be a short tape.
Laura Schlessinger: Yup.
Laura Schlessinger: Yes, www.drlaura.com.
Laura Schlessinger: He thought it was adorable -- especially since he remembered having that very conversation with me when he was six or seven.
Laura Schlessinger: The upcoming second book took me two weeks to think about and then 30 minutes to get it down on paper. The artwork takes months and then all the color printing takes forever! It gets easier once you get the rhythm goin'.
Laura Schlessinger: Yes -- I will.
Laura Schlessinger: No book tours. I did local book store readings. I minimize travel because I am my kid's mom!
Laura Schlessinger: I'm hoping to do videos and a TV cartoon series: Values and ethics for children can be entertaining if done right!
Laura Schlessinger: Actually, from my earliest years I mostly read adult books: generally the Reader's Digest Condensed Book Series.
Laura Schlessinger: Oh, no. It is a challenge to talk to each unique individual's perspective and attitudes. It is always a learning experience for folks in the audience.
Laura Schlessinger: Generally speaking, public schools are run by folks with an agenda that doesn't appreciate my perspective. I have to count on the radio and parents.
Laura Schlessinger: The consistent position of the American Library Association is that they will not "discriminate" material on the basis of age...including pornography. They recommend Peacefire (dismantle your filters) and GO ASK ALICE (nonjudgmental, inappropriate sexual information such as safe bestiality). They wrap themselves up in the First Amendment with pride while they undermine the moral framework of most families.
Laura Schlessinger: Lack of trust, self-confidence, optimism, ability to bond, et cetera.
Laura Schlessinger: Yup.
Laura Schlessinger: Read to them on the phone.
Laura Schlessinger: If G-d is on all our money, why can't it be on the lips of children starting their school day?
Laura Schlessinger: Deryk shared his many opinions with me (chip off the ole block). He is in a small, private, religious school where there is no anonymity -- all the kids are interacted with all the time, and they come from involved families with a religious format. No, he's not scared at all. He's scared for all the kids in these mass, secular, public schools. So am I.
Laura Schlessinger: It will be syndicated next year with Paramount.
Laura Schlessinger: I say "I am my kid's mom" at the beginning of the show to clarify that, with all my degrees, accomplishments, et ctera, the most important responsibility of my life is the blessing and obligation I got from G-d to raise and nurture a baby into a decent human adult. Now go do the right thing!
Anonymous
Posted October 8, 2004
We borrowed this book from the library and it is one of our favorites.I read this to my 3 yr. old daughter so many times that she had memorized most of the contents.Sometimes,I even use my daughter's name instead of Sammy and make up some stories of the good and bad things she does and how our love for each other is always there!Thank you so much for a wonderful book!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 14, 2003
I read this book to my 15 month old godson and while I must admit I have read him many books,some good,some great and some not so,this is by far the worst. The book was too stiff. What little kid calls him mom,Mother? I mean it's absurd. Aside from that I hated the whole thing. Except for the pictures I can honestly say there's nothing worth while. Dr. Laura should stick to giving advice and leave writing books to someone else.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 16, 2000
I read this book to my 4-year old grandson and he and I both loved it. The explana-tions Sammy's mother give him are very good and easily understood. He liked the pic-tures, also, and thought Sammy looked a lot like him. His other grandmother also enjoyed reading it to her older children and it helped warm up their relationship.
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Overview
Dear Parents,
This is the first in what will become a series of books designedto suggest subjects worthy of discussion with your children as theymature in their curiosity about important life issues. As adults wethink the way adults do, and we often forget how we thought as children. We have forgotten some of our fears, worries, complaints, and confusions, which were products of our innocence and fantasies colliding with real-life experiences ...