My heart breaks for kids these days.

Kids who don’t think they’re smart enough, good-looking enough, tall enough, short enough, happy enough, involved enough, helpful enough, caring enough, busy enough, strong enough, sporty enough, techy enough, brave enough.

Enough.

It has always been like this for kids.

When you were a kid, did you think you were enough?

For me, there were A LOT of things I wasn’t “enough” of.

I thought that’s just the way it was.

Some kids “had it all,” while others made do with what they had.

What do you think is the difference between kids today and us when we were kids?

I know what I think.

Kids today have access to everyone’s “private” lives splashed all over social media.

Private lives that show unbelievable fun, unbelievable beauty, unbelievable adventure, unbelievable everything.

An authentic life ends the minute a comparison begins, whether the person finds they’re lacking or “better than.”

I had glossy magazines telling me I wasn’t “enough.”

Luckily, there weren’t all that many magazines laying around, so I wasn’t hit over the head with my faults all that often (other than the hallways at school).

But the glossy magazines have become social media feeds.

24/7.

Since social media isn’t going anywhere, and it’s so very difficult for parents and caregivers to police that situation, what’s a kid to do?

This is where stories become the heroes.

This is where an author holds a unique opportunity to change a child’s life.

If the author creates a flawed character in which real children can see themselves, magic happens.

If the author then writes a story where that character uses their “flaws” to make a meaningful life for themselves, well, there’s a skyful of magic right there.

I guess what I’m saying is, a middle grade book can go a long way toward solving the downward-spiraling problem of “not enough.”

And save the world.

Pick up a middle grade book at your favorite bookstore or library…or write one yourself!

You are enough!

Have a happy week.

~ Gail

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