Welcome to one of the January 18th stops on the blog tour for MC Plays Hide and Seek by Eva Grayzel, organized by iRead Book Tours. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for reviews, other guest posts by the author, interviews with the author, and a giveaway! (More on that at the end of this post.)
This is a guest post stop, so I’m going to let Eva take it away first and then I’ll be back with more information about the book, the author, and that giveaway! Trigger warning: Cancer. This tour is promoting a book that explains cancer to kids.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.
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How To Find Gratitude In Cancer
“Don’t be scared. I’m going to be okay.” Telling a child how to feel simply doesn’t work. When cancer comes to visit, emotions are heightened for every member of the family.
Your children are always watching and listening. They see how you handle stress. They observe how you deal with your feelings. They soak in all that information like little sponges. Even when you think your children aren’t paying attention, it’s essential to find the positive in the midst of dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
It’s all about a balance. It’s normal for the person with cancer and their spouse to feel nervous, scared and depressed. Children will feel those same emotions in their bones. That’s just the way it is. And, it’s okay. If you want a resource to help address children’s feelings when someone they love has cancer, try M.C. Plays Hide & Seek, a book that explains what cancer is, the role of doctors, feelings children experience and ways to make a difference.
Counteract downhill emotions with ones that pull you up by the bootstraps. Despite the challenging environment cancer brings, there is always gratitude worth recognizing. Lure in the gratitude talk.
Here are some examples of gratitude that may resonate:
• I’m grateful I have such supportive friends
• I’m grateful I can still hug and kiss you.
• I’m grateful we live in a quiet neighborhood where I can get the rest I need.
• I’m grateful for hot baths and a good heating system when I feel cold.
• I’m grateful for parents, a spouse, and children who stick around and help me.
• I’m grateful for all your love.
• I’m grateful our employers are understanding and flexible
• I’m grateful for our religious community who help with meals.
• I’m grateful I can still laugh at a joke.
Uncover it and share it – easy shmeezy.
Step 1: Acknowledge gratitude
Step 2: Say it directly to your children. Take the time to share.
It’s effortless to fall into the rut of thinking “Why me? I did nothing to deserve this?” Instead of beating yourself up, counteract that talk with something positive. Retrain your brain to replace sad and angry talk with expressions of gratitude. The more you practice gratitude talk, the better you get at it.
Go ahead. Take that first step and try it right now: I’m so grateful for….
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About the Book
M.C. Plays Hide and Seek
by Eva Grayzel
Published 5 January 2021
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Page Count: 64
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!
M.C. is a cancer cell who shares just enough information about the nature of the disease to promote dialogue and minimize fear. The scary part of cancer is the unknown. Learn about doctors who look for cancer. Understand feelings children experience and learn ways to cope. Empower children with knowledge and how to make a difference. M.C. Plays Hide & Seek strengthens communication and builds emotional health.
Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Author | B&N
About the Author
Eva Grayzel is a motivational speaker, storyteller, and cancer survivor. When her children were five and seven years old, she was diagnosed with cancer. Their fear of losing her was deep, real, and suppressed. When she got a second chance at life, she created the Talk4Hope book series to help children understand cancer and make it less scary.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Amazon
Giveaway Alert!
- Autographed copy of MC PLAYS HIDE AND SEEK (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Feb 8)
Be sure to check out other stops on the tour! The schedule can be found here.
a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.