Please Buy: THE LIAR'S DIARY

Today, over 300 bloggers, including bestsellers, Emmy winners, movie makers, and publishing houses have come together to talk about THE LIAR'S DIARY by Patry Francis.

In support of Author Patry Francis, recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and unable to promote her book, we are urging you to purchase her newly released book THE LIAR'S DIARY in paperback.

Please feel free to read Patry's blog and her blog post about her cancer.

Here are the publisher's words:

Answering the question of what is more powerful—family or friendship? this debut novel unforgettably shows how far one woman would go to protect either.

They couldn’t be more different, but they form a friendship that will alter both their fates. When Ali Mather blows into town, breaking all the rules and breaking hearts (despite the fact that she is pushing forty), she also makes a mark on an unlikely family. Almost against her will, Jeanne Cross feels drawn to this strangely vibrant woman, a fascination that begins to infect Jeanne’s “perfect” husband as well as their teenaged son.

At the heart of the friendship between Ali and Jeanne are deep-seated emotional needs, vulnerabilities they have each been recording in their diaries. Ali also senses another kind of vulnerability; she believes someone has been entering her house when she is not at home—and not with the usual intentions. What this burglar wants is nothing less than a piece of Ali’s soul.
When a murderer strikes and Jeanne’s son is arrested, we learn that the key to the crime lies in the diaries of two very different women . . . but only one of them is telling the truth. A chilling tour of troubled minds, The Liar’s Diary signals the launch of an immensely talented new novelist who knows just how to keep her readers guessing.

Click on any of the following links to purchase THE LIAR'S DIARY:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Powell's
• Penguin to save 15% (after you add the book to your cart, just enter the word PATRY in the coupon code field and click ‘update cart’ to activate the discount).

Thank you for your support.

Kim & Ed

Your Child's Responsibilities....

Yes, your child should have responsibilities, even as a child-athlete. How many times have you arrived at the soccer field without a soccer ball? How many times have you arrived at the football field without a water bottle? Or how many times have you arrived at the hockey rink without a single skate?

My guess is that many of us can relate in some way to the above scenarios. Whose fault is it? Yours? Your child's?

Okay, I agree with you--it's most likely the child's fault. However, I encourage you to keep in mind that, as parents, most of us are over-scheduled and constantly in a hurry. Parents tend to throw in a load of laundry, microwave a hot dog, change a dirty diaper, and/or take a last minute phone call all while getting several children out the door to several different practices. Sound familiar?

A key responsibility for your child-athlete is getting themselves and their gear ready for a practice or a game. The following tips will help you and your child to avoid or persevere through moments of blame and forgetfulness:

1. Stay calm. Becoming irate does not help an already stressful situation. Take a deep breath and try to think clearly before reacting to your child's forgetfulness.
2. Assign a specific location to keep each child's gear. A specific location for each child's gear will help you and your child with being able to locate the proper gear quickly.
3. Assign a specific area for all sports-related dirty laundry. Dirty uniforms are often discovered just before a game. Prevent this by having your child place their dirty uniform or equipment in a specified area. You're more likely to have it ready if you are actually away that it's dirty!
4. Store away all old gear. Gear that is too big, too small, or not necessary for your child's current sport should be stored away. If you keep old gear mixed with new gear, you and your child will be confused when you're in a rush to get out the door.
5. Create an equipment check list. If your child is repeatedly missing equipment when he arrives at practice, consider using a check list that is your child's responsibility before you leave the house.
6. Suffer the consequences. Age permitting, if your child repeatedly forgets equipment, consider having him sit out of a game or practice. This is hard to do, but it might be a good lesson to learn.

Once again, remember that bringing equipment is your child's responsibility. But it is your responsibility to guide and teach your child. Try out some of the above tips, and let us know how they work for you.

Holiday Break.......

Hmmmm. Do sports parents ever get a break? Not much.

Fortunately, our two younger children have very little sports over the holiday break. Our oldest child will be playing in an out of town hockey tournament two days after Christmas.

In the spirit of being good sports-parents and in support of our son being a true team-player, I will smile and enjoy watching more games! The timing is not good, but you do what you have to do.

How about you? How do you feel about sports over the holidays?

......HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY!

Showing Interest in Your Child

Recently, I realized that I have very few pictures of my children--especially in sports. Sure, I took a few when my first child started playing soccer. Eventually, I took a couple pictures of my second child. As for pictures of my third child? Almost none.

Don't worry--I don't lack interest in my children, nor do most of you. However, when my son said, "You don't have any pictures of me.....," I felt guilty. Yes, I'm at most of his games, but looking at his point of view, I probably don't appear all that interested.

I headed out last week and bought a new camera, and I've been snapping away pictures all week. Finally, we have documentation that we do celebrate Thanksgiving, that my kids have friends, that my children actually have grandparents, and that all three play sports! Needless to say, my kids were thrilled to see the pictures.

Snapping a few photos shows your child that you're supportive. Supporting your child can lead to more confidence. Documenting their childhood with pictures gives your child wonderful memories to look back on.

So.....start snapping away today! (FYI--The picture at the top is proof that I actually took a picture!)

Keeping Score in Youth Recreational Leagues...

Recently, I received an email from a parent regarding the controversy in keeping score versus not keeping score in youth athletics.


To summarize, several times during the season for our recreational youth soccer team we have been asked to make adjustments--to even the playing level when our team is winning by many goals. The following email from a parent raises some interesting points on this issue:


Kim,

When I saw an assist at the last game I thought it was so awesome. I think I cheered for that girl (can't remember who) more than the one who scored! I am quite pleased with the coaching that the four of you do. (I left this paragraph here because I want readers to see what a wonderful group of parents I'm dealing with. Yes, there are a lot of great sports parents out there. Also, I soooo appreciate the compliment.)

Question...are you saying that the team has been asked to play with one less player for the rest of the season? We already have four sitting out. And, although I know that some girls rather like to sit out, especially on hot days, others probably do not. I understand the girls needing a break, or rest, and the substitutions that take place. I think you have been fair with who you play, when and where. However, I do not feel that it is fair that you have been asked to have one less player on the field during a game. It is not fair because we all paid for our daughters to participate: to learn the sport, how to play, the skills, the rules, sportsmanship and teamwork; to practice; and, to play during game time...not to sit on the side-line. Let the other team(s) play with an extra player.
I thought that Olentangy Youth Athletic Association was about playing the game, participating, and not about keeping score. Obviously, someone has been keeping score. Someone's feelings have been hurt. Why is it so bad that someone's feelings are hurt? Hurt is a part of life and as parents and coaches we can influence our children how to get past the hurt. By asking you to play with one less player, I believe that we (OYAA) are telling the 'hurt person' (for lack of a better person to refer to) and the other team(s) that if things are not going well for them, then they can ask/tell someone else to make a sacrifice so that they can feel better. What is that teaching our children? The easy way out? It is someone else's fault? I can change the rules to please me? I don't have to try harder, practice more, or do my best? I can't win if we play fair so you need to give me...a head start, an extra shot, more time...? And for the child who has to sit out because of the request, what is it saying to her? What is it saying to her team? It is not fair, I should be playing? Why do I have to sit out? What about...? How come they have more players? It must be okay to change rules to games? I am better so I can boss people around? I am inferior so I can tell people what to do? If things don't go my way someone else will have to pay the price? Are we telling them that playing well and scoring goals means nothing? Are we telling them that playing well, scoring goals and winning is not good? Are we conveying that doing a good job can have a negative consequence? Are we telling them that scoring goals is unfortunate??
Do you understand what I am trying to say?
At first, a few years ago, when I became familiar with the 'no keeping score' rule I thought it sounded like a good idea...in that playing was all about the game, participating in the sport. However I have since realized that players, and/or parents, often keep score. We are a competitive nation. The kids usually know if they win or lose and it is supposed to be no big deal either way, right?

Winning or losing is a big deal to some (or you would not have been asked to play with one less player). How are we going to teach our children to face loss, to be a good looser, to be a good winner, to demonstrate good sportsmanship, and so on... when score is not a part of the game?
OYAA sports are team sports, each player counts. Teamwork is essential, and individual effort is encouraged.

I played softball from the age of 9 years until my early 20s. When I was too old to play on the HGSA team any longer, I was asked to coach (as were many of my team mates) the younger girls in the league. So, I took a coaching course during college, and coached one season. Back then we kept score. My team did not win a single game. My girls learned how to handle loss. The other teams were nice and cheered for us for playing a good game. We did likewise. We never came away with long faces. We always played our best as a team and as individuals and we knew that and we celebrated who we were..... Keeping score helped us to realize that a loss does not mean that we were losers. We were winners. (I did not return to coaching the following season because I was working my way through college! I returned to coaching, fastpitch, two years ago.)
Kim, I am sorry; I don't really know why I felt compelled to share this with you. I guess I wanted to give you some background as to why I think that asking you to have a player sit seems to be against what OYAA is all about. Plus, I believe that you care. (I do care, and so do all of our coaches!)
Thanks, I hope that you understand.


These are great points. I encourage all of you to post comments with suggestions on how to responsibly handle these situations.


Kim