The Purpose and Intent of the “You Are…” Series

When I began writing the “You Are…” series, I had a very distinct purpose and intention for the books.  

The mission of the series is the three Cs; Connection, Communication, and Comprehension. They are the foundation behind the idea and why it is so much more than just defining words. It is deep, it is meaningful, and if used correctly, I believe can help a child to grow up believing these truths we are speaking over them. 

I want to dive into each of the Cs and discuss my thoughts behind them a little more and then share you with the intention of how the books can be used at various ages of a child’s life.  

1. Connection:

When parents or caregivers sit down to read these books with children, I wanted the connection and the relationship building to be the main focus. My hope and prayers are that children would snuggle in close to that special person reading the book to them and hear them speaking positive, life-giving words over their life. Especially at younger ages, children long for that closeness. They feel safe, they feel wanted, and they feel the love when they are close to you spending a special moment of connection. This connection can be built simply by being together and reading a special book.  

2. Communication:

Another element that I felt was very important to children ultimately understanding the books was communication. It is great to read it to them and for them to hear you saying the words, but it is through the discussions that true comprehension can take place. It takes the sweet, simple poem to a new level for children and helps them not only share about their day but see how these words apply to their life. Another important element of communication for me is that nighttime seems to be when my sons and I have our best discussions and conversations. Oftentimes children come home from school and don’t want to share the things they did or accomplished that day at school, not because they don’t want to share with us, but because they need a break. I continue to ask my son as soon as he gets in the car “How was your day?,” but know that if I want the answer, it is best to wait until our nighttime talk. They need a little time for their brains to process all that just happened to them during their day, and by nighttime, they are usually better able to answer questions, have discussions, and find ways these important words apply to them. 

3. Comprehension:

I briefly touched on comprehension in the previous section, but the comprehension of or understanding of these words is a key factor in why I wrote the books. Many of the words defined and described in the series are words that many of us assume our children know the meaning of. Over time, yes many children will start to know the meaning, but what if they didn’t have to learn it over time? What if they knew it from the beginning? How much more would they believe it, and how much of a difference could it make in their life? I know personally that if I had truly known what the definitions were of some of these words, maybe I would have been nicer to myself as a teenager and wouldn’t have beat myself up as much as I did (and still do) because I would have known the truth instead of the lies I was telling myself.

I like to think of the comprehension piece of this series as armor. When soldiers go into battle, they need to be ready for all that is coming their way. They need protection, they need guidance, and they need armor to have the confidence that they are going to be okay once they get to the battle. I think understanding these words is like armor for the lies the world throws at us. It is the protection of the mind and confidence that they don’t have to listen to the lies they see or hear that make them question who they are and where they come from. Comprehension is important and it can make a difference.  

How to use the books according to your child’s age:

Ages 0-3:

-Simply read the books and allow children to build their relationship with you by hearing you speak life to them, and share a sweet moment before bed. Pick one or two stories within the book to read with them and point out the illustrations and animals. You can help them start to understand the small animal represents them, and the big animal represents you.

-Other educational topics to discuss: Colors, animals, habitats, and feeling and rhyming words.

Ages 3-6:

-Read one or two stories a night with your child to get the same impact as the 0-3 age group, but incorporate more of the discussion questions. Help them to think about their day and apply it to school or home. You can write down a word or two of their answers in the journal section to look back and reflect on later, or you can leave the journal section blank for them to use as they get older.

-The parent writing down their answers at this age, is not only a great way to reflect when you come back to it later but also a special way to see how the answers evolve with deeper understanding and maturity.

Ages 6-10:

-Same as younger ages, but use the time to focus on quality time, connection, and listening (you may be able to get more insight into feelings/emotions your child is having that you may have been unaware of). Use the discussion questions as a way to apply to unpack those feelings and develop ideas of how to manage them. Have them define what the words mean in their own words. Reflect on journal entries you have written down before, or spend some time together writing some notes in the journal to use in the future. They can also begin to write the journal entries on their own if they prefer to do that independently.

Ages 10+: 

-Although this book seems to be more for younger children, I wholeheartedly believe we can use it for our older children as well. I think it can be a tool on their bookshelf they can come back to and look at when they are going through tough times in their lives. They can use past experiences they have written about as a reminder of how the words once applied to them, or give them a place to journal when they need an outlet to work through a problem they are currently having. As I mentioned before, these stories and discussions are meant to be like armor for the world. Sometimes we might lose confidence or feel like we have lost our armor, but these books will always be here to come back to in case you need a new mindset or a new suit of armor. 

Adults:

I will be honest and tell you that even though I wrote these books and know the words, I still get something out of them every time I read them. I hear myself reading the poems to my children or sharing them with a group of people, and I remember that God gave these words to me because they apply to me too. They are meant for the hearts and ears of children, but we oftentimes forget, we were once children too and we are God’s children who need the same reminders and truths. It is okay to use and need the books as much as your children do, and it is okay for you to use the journals as well! 

I hope this gives you a clearer view of the purpose and intention of the “You Are…” series, and I hope it can guide you on how to effectively use them in your own life. I pray for your children to hear the messages and begin to understand the meanings, I pray they suit up in their armor of truth, and I pray they go out into the world knowing how loved, important, and special they are.