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May 11, 2008
Children's Book Explains Why Mom Deploys
Sgt. 1st Class Sharon G. McBride
"My Mommy Wears Combat Boots," was written by Sgt. 1st Class Sharon G. McBride before her second deployment, partly to explain to her daughter why she would be gone.
Children's Book Explains Why Mom Deploys
WASHINGTON
A new children's book, written by a former Soldier and single mother, helps to explain why mom deployed and how to cope with the emotions associated with her departure.
"My Mommy Wears Combat Boots," written by Sgt. 1st Class Sharon G. McBride, is geared to young children and toddlers to help explain why mom had to leave and how to manage feelings of anger, sadness and loneliness.
McBride was motivated to write the book just before her second deployment after her daughter was born. She scoured the internet and book stores looking for a children's book that would help explain the situation, she said, but could find none that seemed appropriate.
"What was available was geared toward daddies," McBride said, "And I thought that would confuse her more."
At a loss, McBride decided to write her own book. The original copy was written on the computer and illustrated by hand-drawn sketches, and then bound at the neighborhood Kinkos, she said.
The book helped to explain to McBride's daughter, Lyssa, why she had to deploy.
"Kids are egocentric," McBride said, "They don't understand duty and honor, they only want mom or dad back."
The main character of the book, a young girl bear-cub, has to deal with her mother going on deployment. The cub experiences many emotions: anger, frustration, sadness, loneliness, and even guilt.
"My Mommy Wears Combat Boots" explains that those emotions are normal, and it is OK to feel them, McBride said. The book presents ways of dealing with those emotions with the help of a care-giver-in this case, Grandma. In the book, McBride illustrates that proper forms of emotional expression, such as running outside or screaming into your pillow, are acceptable, but hitting grandma or shouting at the family pet is not.
Published Feb. 28, 2008, the book is based on McBride's experiences with her daughter during deployment. The first time she deployed, McBride left without explaining to her daughter why she was going; she said that was her main mistake.
"I should have talked to her like a little adult," McBride said.
Posted by Wild Thing at May 11, 2008 03:47 AM
Comments
... and black thigh highs too! Happy Mother's Day!!
Posted by: drstrangeloveb52isok at May 11, 2008 06:19 AM
GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Lynn at May 11, 2008 06:32 AM
I can only imagine what a mother goes through when deployed, I know what it was like as a father.
BTW, Happy Mothers Day to all of you who are qualified.
Posted by: Jack at May 11, 2008 07:34 AM
drstrangeloveb52isok hahaha
Happy Mothers Day to Mrs. Darth.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 11, 2008 07:47 PM
Lynn isn't it adorable and yes hwat a great idea.
Happy Mother's Day Lynn.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 11, 2008 07:49 PM
Jack and a Happy Mother's Day to Mrs. Jack.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 11, 2008 07:50 PM
