Friday, April 28, 2000
'Mommy Magic' casts a spell of love
Book offers tips for creating special moments kids won't forget
By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Adria Manary serves her children waffle breakfasts in the bathtub. She taught her 5-year-old daughter her phone number to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She initiates a “positive round table” where family members say good things about each other.
It's all part of the “mommy magic” that creates lasting memories for children — the special little things that moms do that get passed on to future generations.
“I truly believe when a child is born, God sprinkles some magic into the heart of the mother,” says Ms. Manary, wife, mother of three and author of Mommy Magic: 450 Ways to Nurture Your Child (Angel Power Press; $12.95). “It's the unconditional love a mother has for her child.”
|
IF YOU GO
|
What: Adria Manary signing Mommy Magic: 450 Ways to Nurture Your Child.
•
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday.
• Where: Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Rookwood Pavilion, Norwood.
• Information: 396-8960.
|
Ms. Manary's book is peppered with practical ideas, as well as inspirational stories, to keep the magic alive in this hectic world. She drew from her mother's and her own nurturing ideas and interviewed 100 mothers.
“A lot of the books I've found are craft-oriented or hands-on activities,” says Ms. Manary, who is here next week on her book tour. “Even though this book has a lot of those, I really emphasize the heart side — things you can do to promote kindness so they can grow up to be kind adults.”
She got the idea for her book after a memorable day with her three children, now ages 11, 8 and 5. They hadn't done anything particular, except spend time together and had a ball doing it.
At night, while tucking one of her sons in bed, she mentioned what a wonderful day it had been. “It was because of the magic, Mommy . . . YOU make things magic for us, Mommy,” he told her.
“I started writing the book that night. When a child says to you, "You provide the magic for us Mommy,' it just does wonderful things to your heart.”
One of her favorite ways to connect with her children is the positive round table, which occurs around the dinner table.
“It's certainly something that enriches our family environment,” she says. “I'm also trying to teach them the power of the mind and how valuable a tool it is. If you believe it, you can achieve it. I try to instill that in them.”
All this nurturing doesn't have to take hours of planning and execution. Sometimes, it just involves thinking creatively and seizing the moment.
One day, her little girl was upset because Ms. Manary was leaving the house to do an errand. She wouldn't stop crying. “She had a little necklace on, and I had a necklace on. I told her when she wanted me, to talk to the necklace, and we'll whisper to each. It calmed her down.”
“You have to think through the eyes of a child. To her, that was a real answer. It might not be believable, but it's part of the magic you create.”
These kinds of moments are so important in establishing a strong foundation for your children so they become productive, kind and caring adults, Ms. Manary says. And some day, they'll become kind, loving and caring parents.
One of her own favorite childhood memories is of her mother always serving her cinnamon toast and tea on a tray when she was sick. Her mother placed a bell on the tray so she could call for her.
When Ms. Manary went to her brother's Little League games, she saw the team mascot and longed to have that job. She doesn't know what strings her mother pulled, but Ms. Manary eventually became the mascot.
“She was always in my corner. She was a master at making my dreams come true.”
But their relationship was always clearly defined. Her mother often told her, “I can't always be your friend. I need to be your mother.”
Ms. Manary's ultimate goal is to help families create joy in their lives — the kind of joy she has known. One memorable moment for her occurred on a camping trip when everyone sat silently watching the campfire for a half hour. Her little girl, too, sat quietly on her lap.
“It was just a joy to sit and hold her,” Ms. Manary says. “Those times slip away if you don't catch them.”
Mommy Magic is the first in a series of books about magic in the family. Ms. Manary is collecting stories for her next books, Daddy Magic and Marriage Magic. Stories can be submitted at www.mommymagic.com.
Cincinnati unprepared for terrorist acts
Submit your ideas for state motto
Bengals sue to manage stadium
Bishop Tutu next 'Freedom Conductor'
Son of Beast takes off today
Coach's sons charged in Badin drug theft
Kidnap victim strangled, burned
Police union criticizes Luken
Census-takers hit streets for count
Convicted murderer's rape trial gets under way
Cops crack down on drugs
Education solutions vary
McNicholas students protest coach's firing
Newport teen guilty of murder
Rally draws attention to rape
Book gives kids problem-solving tools
Report: State laws weak on charter schools
Test teaches parents how to help
Congressmen seek vote on Ohio motto
GET TO IT
Going to a wedding? You might find a date
'Mommy Magic' casts a spell of love
TRISTATE DIGEST
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Adults invited to NKU
Butler County drug-board leader resigns
Classes help to clear trail
Clinton to visit schools in Ky., Ohio
Fine Arts Fund surpasses goal
Foes likely can't halt Hamilton park road
GOP 'David' targets Goliath
Kings building 2 schools
Ky. man charged in e-mail threats
Ludlow council again OKs budget mayor vetoed
Painting depicts aviation history
Policeman injured in mall chase
Sharonville decides against I-275 buffers
Taft's free tickets criticized
Teen girls learn how to cope with stress
'Traffic' movie needs extra extras
Values curricula proposed
Veteran lawman to serve as interim Carlisle police chief
Walton firm creates exhibit for dinosaur shows
