Little did I know at the time, but the first seed for this book was planted over 20 years ago.  My kids are grown adults now, but when they were little, story time was very big in our house.  One of my son’s favorites when he was itty-bitty was the classic Golden Book, Pat the Bunny.  It was a “touch and feel” board book and was a staple at bedtime.  Years later my son encountered a not-so-nice child on the playground.  When we talked about the experience, my son had incredible words of wisdom and insight.  He stated matter-of-factly that obviously that child had not been read Pat the Bunny.  For if he had, he obviously would not have thrown sand at him.  That is the revelation and science supports it today.

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There’s a physiological event which takes place in the brain.  A synapse fires and neurons carve a pathway.  My Name is Jessie is a bridge to that event:  the firing of synapses to embed sympathy, empathy, compassion, joy and love. Emotions-so named from the Latin word, “to move”-need to be labeled.

 

If you can link someone else’s life or their experience to your own, that allows a bridge for understanding, sympathy, empathy and compassion to rise.  And yes, that bridge can be gently patting a faux bunny or even a dog named Jessie.

 

While still being age appropriate, My Name is Jessie is a true, heartstring pulling, story. That's intentional and dare I say…good.  As parents there’s a tendency to not have your child feel any discomfort.  However, the problem with that is that we “rescue” them from their greatest moment of learning—their greatest moment of emotional growth.

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You’ve heard the saying that children are born with a clean slate and we write on it.  As parents and caregivers, teachers and invested grown-ups, we are charged with either raising kids who are sympathetic, empathetic and compassionate OR…raising kids who are consumers who take and take without any emotional intelligence to be aware of others.

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And we all know that they grow up and become adults, one way or the other.

 

So as you read the story together, I urge you not to “rescue” them from experiencing these emotions. If you do need a tissue, don’t worry; the same tissue can be used for the joyful, happily-ever-after ending as well! In other words, let those synapses fire, let the nervous system activate. Take time to curl up in a cozy blanket and talk about the questions in the back of the book. Let your child develop and you revel in having a front row seat.