Uncategorized | Magination Press Family

That Missing Feeling Travels to Bosnia & Herzegovina

Divorce August 23, 2022 10:00 am

That Missing Feeling author, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, and author-storyteller,Vida Zuljevic, have been friends for many years. They met when Vida was a school librarian in the United States. Amy and Vida have continued their friendship now that Vida has returned to her homeland of Bosnia where she writes and shares books and stories with children. It is an honor for Magination that Vida chose to translate That Missing Feeling and to share it with students across the ocean from where it was written. Here’s an interview with Vida about sharing That Missing Feeling with children in Bosnia. Magination Press: What inspired you to translate That Missing Feeling? Vida Zuljevic: When I saw the topic of this book, I thought that it’s an extremely relevant one for many children who’ve found themselves living in two places as a result of their parents' divorce. The topic hit home, too, as my grandchildren went through this difficult family organization. Since retiring in the U.S., I’ve been living mostly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I’ve been visiting early learning centers and elementary schools as Grandma Storyteller for reading and storytelling sessions. I’m always on the lookout for good stories to read to the children, and I believe that That Missing Feeling should be heard and read by millions of children around the world. Language should be no obstacle to sharing this book with the children I work with now, so I translated it into Bosnian. Vida and her granddaughter MP: To whom did you read the book? VZ: First, I read it to three second grade classes at the elementary school where I did my student teaching when I was first becoming a teacher, 50 years ago. Then, I read it to two of my granddaughters who have experienced “that missing feeling” themselves. I even gifted a book and a doll I made with a notebook to my nine-year-old granddaughter, who fell in love with the book and the doll as well. She said that she planned to take them to summer camp. MP: What about the story did you wish to share with students? VZ: Although That Missing Feeling is a story of a girl whose parents divorce and whose life in two homes leads to the missing feeling, the story can apply to all children (and adults) who miss someone or something they love. Listening to Mia’s story, children can see that there are ordinary people just like them who miss somebody they love. They understand that there are ways to at least soothe those feelings and redirect them to something positive. MP: How did the children respond when you read it aloud? VZ: I like to read and partially tell the story at the same time. With this story, I first asked children if there was somebody in their lives that they missed a lot. They shared. Then, I shared about how much I miss

Managing Perfectionism: A Guide for Teens

Perfectionism February 23, 2022 10:00 am By Bonnie Zucker, PsyD

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It’s hard for teens to be happy when they’ve created a very narrow window of what defines success. The goal of A Perfectionist’s Guide to Not Being Perfect by Bonnie Zucker, PsyD is to encourage teens to maintain their desire to achieve without striving to always be perfect and to appreciate and love who they are just as they are, not for what they do or accomplish. Finding a balance between work and play is key. Challenging perfectionism is about the pursuit of happiness. Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 1: What is Perfectionism and Why Change It? The thing that is really hard and really amazing is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. Anna Quindlen, Author Being a perfectionist means refusing to accept anything less than perfect, and it’s a disadvantage (not an advantage.) People tend to see it as a personality trait that is characterized by creating and working toward excessively high, unrealistic standards that are often impossible to meet. It can cause stress, anxiety, eating disorders, and depression, and it prevents you from trying new things and feeling good about yourself. Perfectionism makes you feel like a failure and see only one path to being successful in life (even though there are many paths!). Perfectionists think their achievements define who they are and are a measure of what they are worth. Perfectionism is often about gaining the approval of others, or wanting to be accepted and admired by them, and avoiding judgment or blame. The focus is on what others think, rather than what you think. Perfectionism and striving for excellence are not the same thing. Perfectionists often have a hard time with “good enough,” thinking of it as doing the bare minimum. But good enough often is enough, and allowing yourself to sometimes do a good enough job lets you have a more balanced life. The goal is to have positive striving for excellence without perfectionism and its negative consequences. Perfectionism can manifest in many ways. General - wanting things to be a certain way, rigidity/inflexibility, closed to change. Academic - requiring top grades / All As. Sports performance - requiring excelling at sports: always starting, being the best player, etc. Body image - strictly pursuing a certain body type, often thin and toned or lean and muscular Relationships - holding others to high standards and not being forgiving or flexible if others make mistakes or do things in a different way. Judging others. People-pleasing - prioritizing what others think of you, saying “yes” and being agreeable even when it’s not your preference. Putting others’ needs and preferences above your own. No matter the type or cause of your perfectionism, you can work to change it!

Build Your Library: Bullying

Uncategorized September 3, 2020 10:00 am

School is starting again, either online or in person. While children may have missed seeing their friends and teachers, time at home may have given them a break from bullies. Helping your child navigate social situations and manage interaction with bullies is a challenging and important responsibility for parents and caregivers. These books, from our Build Your Library Collection, can help. Lulu the One and Only by Lynnette Mawhinney, PhD explores the experience of being multiracial, explains microaggression, and provides a resilient response. Read a post about supporting your biracial child from the Author's Note here. Hear Lulu the One and Only read aloud here. Baxter and Danny Stand Up to Bullying by James M. Foley, DEd follows a pair of friends, Baxter and Danny, as they encounter and learn how to stand up to bullies. Read an excerpt from the Note to Parents and Other Caregivers here. Mind Over Basketball: Coach Yourself to Handle Stress by Jane Weierbach, PhD, and Elizabeth Phillips-Hershey, PhD explores mindfulness as a strategy to handle stress, including bullies. The stressors in Tuck's life are interfering with his effort to make the basketball team. A new mentor teaches Tuck how to manage his anxiety and self-doubt. Read a post about Mind Over Basketball here. Stand Up!: Be an Upstander and Make a Difference by Wendy L. Moss, PhD, ABPP provides strategies to become a "positive bystander" someone who stands up for themselves and others. Two of the ways to be an Upstander include having empathy for others and conflict resolution. Read an excerpt from a chapter of Stand Up! here. Through October 31, 2020, get 25% off your purchase and free shipping when you order books directly from Magination Press through APA.org. Click here to books and use code FF25 at checkout.