ANSWERS

Dear Friend,

Naturally, everyone wants answers, but knowing what the questions are first is essential.

When children are little, they ask questionsꟷincessantly! “Why, Mommy?”

They’re curious, and they want to know. It’s amazing how much those little humans want to know. At times, a parent or caretaker can be overwhelmed with the flood of questions that the child asks. I’m rueful that sometimes the questions got to be too much (say, when I was cooking and trying to concentrate on not burning the food.)

My answer in that situation might be, “‘Because,’ or ‘because I said so.’” My son settled for that answer occasionally. I think he was testing my limits, and he realized he’d reached mine. Afterward, I’d try to give a reasoned answer for a question that required a complex answer that I wasn’t sure he’d understand. Often, he understood every word I’d said. Or so it seemed. He certainly had a mind that amazed me.

When he was four-years-old, he had a cowboy hat. When he got a splinter in his finger, as I was about to disinfect, then get the splinter out with tweezers, I said “Be a brave little cowboy.”

His answer: “I’m not a cowboy, I’m a coward.”

Wow! Was I surprised! A play on words at age four!

Be careful what you ask! In later years, my son needed several shots. If the doctor asked, “Are you ready?” he never was! One time, he was like the Incredible Hulk and it took four nurses to hold him down! (This is NOT an exaggeration.)

Contrast that with my character Louisa’s brother, Randy. He reliably asked, “What’s for dinner?” (Louisa’s Vineyard, Louisa’s Passion, Book 1)

You won’t need to be held down, since providing answers shouldn’t be painful. I have just four quick questions:

Please help me make my blogs relatable and interesting by answering the following questions:

1. What’s your favorite book genre? (Answer in the Comments section below)
2. You’ve been on my email list. Do you read my blogs? (Yes? No? Any reactions?)
3. Any topics you’d like me to write about? (Answer in the Comments section below)
4. If you’ve read one or more of my books, please tell me what you liked about them. (Answer in the Comments section below)

Thank you for your feedback. If you’ve provided a positive comment, I’d like to include your comment (first name and initial of last name only–to preserve your privacy) in my book or in PR. Okay with that?

Please email me with any longer comments or thoughts you’d like to share at:

Shelley@shelleysommers.com

May your questions receive true, enlightening, and understandable answers.

“See you” next week!

Happy reading,