Life is More of a Rollercoaster than a Highway

I don’t know about you, but to me, it seems like life is either going 100 miles per hour or dragging along at 2 miles per hour. Before I started school, I had so much free time that I didn’t know what to do with it all. I had time for hobbies. I went to a watercolor class. I read lots of books. I wrote. I took my dogs to the dog park. I walked along the bike path. I got bored.

In the span of three weeks, I have gone from having extra hours in my day to needing extra hours in my day. I have found myself working from the moment I wake up until long after I should have gone to bed. I love learning, but I forgot how much time and hard work it requires. I am finding time management skills I never thought I had.

As I write this, I am struck by the thought that no matter how much or how little we have on our plates, it’s important to take “mental health breaks” from our day. It’s important to not get overwhelmed by our busy days or allow our mind to go numb on slow days. My mental health breaks have kept me on track and allowed me to step away from my stress for a moment long enough to breathe a sigh of relief and examine what I have accomplished.

--Brittany Schumann,
Suicide Prevention

Library Books on Sensitive Topics

How do you help your child, or grandchild, through a tough time?

Tough times for kids can be typical, but tough, stuff like getting a new brother or sister, fighting with a brother or sister, or a fear of lightning. Or it can be traumatic like death, divorce, or serious illness.

What do all of these topics have in common? A kids' book.

A friendly librarian at any of the branches of the Licking County Library--the new name of the Newark Public Library--can help you find what you need.

For most topics, you can find a book in which the character matches your child's age, sex and race. Reading a story about another child going through the same thing can be comforting and help a child process difficult emotions. Reading it on the lap of a warm and loving mom, dad, or grandparent, can open up a conversation that can help kids to problem-solve, heal and grow.

Library card out of commission due to fines or lost books? Can't afford to reinstate it right now? Bummer. (Been there.)

The library will still welcome you and your child. Go to the library and read books there. You can still take your child to story hours and other activities.

If you find a special book that hits the mark, maybe you can buy it.

But consider making even small payments--a dollar or two here can make a difference over time.

--Judith Allee
Parent Support Coordinator