12/10/2021
So, I have a little announcement…
It has been almost 6 years since I embarked on writing “Real Kids, Real Play” and almost 4 years since I self-published this little title 📕.
What started as a passion project when I was sleep deprived and desperately looking for a resource to keep my energetic 2-year-old boy occupied has taken me further than I ever thought possible.
I still pinch myself to think that I was flown to Sydney for an interview on the Today Show, interviewed on ABC Radio, fulfilled a regular guest blog role for a number of awesome publications and then picked up by a distributor and saw my little old book in Big W, Dymocks and even in the airport bookshop as I was browsing with my ‘Day Job’ boss 😆.
But definitely, the most humbling moment was to have the amazing say “Every now and again I have a book come across my desk, which has been written by a person full of passion and wisdom, that needs to be found! Real Kids, Real Play is one such book” 🎉
I knew that my little book was the resource tired parents had been craving… one to help alleviate the clutter and financial burden of toys, but one also to help build the play capacity of each and every family to engage in meaningful, educational experiences together. But I still can’t quite believe that it all happened 🌈
The COVID pandemic only re-emphasised the need for a resource that helped parents create quick, easy and meaningful play experiences inside the home utilising what they had. This revalidated my mission and, I would like to think, that in some small way my humble little book helped families get through the incredibly challenging time 💕.
However, the pandemic has taken its toll, particularly for those of us in Melbourne. It has forced us to face challenges that we thought insurmountable and tap into every ounce of strength we didn’t even know we had. For many of us, we are running on empty, prioritising what little energy we have on keeping our children mentally afloat.
As we look towards opening up over the coming weeks and finding a ‘COVID normal’, I have reflected on how I want this post-lockdown phase to look.
Like everyone (seemingly) in Melbourne, it will include a renovation so I never have to look at these horrible walls again (that is, if we can get timber🥴). But, I want it to also include more quality time, less phone time and a whole lot of rebuilding 🌟
The mental toll for everyone has been mighty tough and I know that as much as it was my kids (and I) that needed RKRP back in 2015, it is also my kids, actually, all of our kids, that will now need so much more of me as we navigate our way back to living 👨👩👧👦🥰
It is for this reason, that I have made the decision to not enter into any more print runs.
It is not with a heavy heart that I make this decision… In fact, it is with a grateful and happy heart that I have been able to experience the last 4 years. What a blast! There is much excitement, optimism and new challenges ahead and I cannot wait to start to experience LIFE again when we finally open up
Of course, I always have books in stock, so I will be selling the remaining copies that I have at a discounted price of $20 (incl. shipping). I’m sure you are all well aware of the looming delays anticipated with shipping at Christmas, so be sure to get in if you are stocking up for Christmas!
💕💕Thankyou to my little community that has supported me on this journey and thank you particularly to those who showed me love, support and friendship in the journey… I have tagged a few of the beautiful people whose support for the book and myself has been invaluable… you really are beautiful people 🌟🌟
So, its not goodbye just yet, but a conscious stepping back over the months to come xx
(Psst: the discount applies to wholesale orders too - available directly or through Trada)
