One of the common questions that people ask me when I tell them that my story is about a giraffe losing his shoes is, “What inspired you to write that story?” I simply smile, and I say that I work with special needs. One of the children I work with is who inspired me. He was born with Cerebral Palsy and almost died at birth. When he was born, he was given a bear as his comfort toy. One thing that I’ve noticed while caring for him is how traumatic it is for him when this bear is misplaced. It’s not only a difficult time for him, but his parents and me, as his teacher.
I know that there are many children who have comfort items that keep them grounded, whether it’s a bear, a blanket, or shoes, like in my story. I have written my story for all of those children who need a comfort item and for the parents who know how traumatic it can be for their children and the family when the item gets misplaced. For these children, these items are there comfort, their safety zone and something that is always there for them. And when that item is no longer there, the world can be a scary and unsettling place.
I hope that you will subscribe to my blog and continue on this journey with me. I promise it will be an exciting one!