Piedmont Parent Magazine's Young Author's Contest

I'm reminded this week, what a gift the opportunity to home school really is.  Together, we worked on a book for Eva to submit to the Piedmont Parent Magazine's young Author's contest for the Triad area.  This past fall, we set up a "writing factory," and went to town daily on story boards, binding materials, etc.  Eva mostly had a vision for the cover and illustrations.  It had to be blue sparkly paper, hot pink ric-rac, 3-D flower accents.... well, you get the idea.

Together, we spent time thinking about her story.  Every plot suggestion I thought I'd mention, she shot down.  She had a clear picture of her story.  The story that was coming from her own creative mind.  This project was her own.  As she thought about her story of the lonely puppy, she hugged our little Missy-- our sweet, cuddle-muffin of a toy poodle. She dedicated the book to her family, and her dog Missy, thinking about what a treasure her own puppy really was.  Amazingly, and certainly unexpectedly, a month after she submitted the book(in January), we had to put our little 3 year-old pup down due to severe illness (in February).  It made her story even more special.

As it turned out, Eva won for her age group for illustration!  While we were happily surprised, we were not shocked, as we recalled how special the process was for Eva.  Nana and Papa got to celebrate her accomplishment with us. 

Unexpectedly, Eva, along with the other student winners were asked to read their book to the audience.  For the illustration winners, they asked that they talk through their illustration process.  As you might imagine, being Eva's first public-speaking scenario, and without preparation-- she froze.  And really... I couldn't be more proud. 

And when all was said and done, the magazine Editor praised her publicly for her beautifully embellished book, the crowd applauded, and Eva was happy. She had a sense of accomplishment that goes beyond what she did or didn't do in that one speaking moment.  It didn't matter-- she knew what she had accomplished in the midst of it all.  Lesson learned.  Moment captured.

In the end, she wrote a story, saw her vision come to fruition, contemplated the special gift of a puppy and the loss of one.  She experienced recognition for her hard and meaning-filled work.  It was wonderful for us all.  And I learn through the process for myself, to look at myself with the same eyes filled with grace and pride that I see her with.  I know I can be hard on myself.  Perhaps with my adult eyes only looking at the little glimpses of what I didn't do, instead of holding onto what I did do.  And to feel good about it.  Lesson learned.  Teaching her and watching her grow and experience more gives me new insight for my own life.  Quite an education, this home-schooling thing.