A friend recently told me "It seems that you love children's books as much as I love chocolate!" And it is true - my love for children's books is close to an addiction. Every time I walk into a children's bookstore, I can't walk out empty-handed and I certainly can't walk the aisles without peeking at every new cover.

So when I recently picked up a copy of Feeding Penny Pig, I was hooked on the concept and knew that I wanted a copy for my own daughter. Filled with beautiful illustrations and bright, crispy pages, Feeding Penny Pig is the story of a little girl, Laney, who learns about the importance of responsibility and earning money. Laney receives a very special piggy bank as a gift from her grandmother, and she learns that her piggy bank is very hungry for coins. Through taking care of the piggy bank, doing chores and earning money, Laney begins to understand the concept of responsibility at a young age.

The book is ideal for children three years and older who are ready to learn about money, doing chores and earning an allowance.

I contacted the author, Jeannine Fox (or "Mimi" as her grandchildren call her) to inquire about her inspiration for the story.

Annie: What inspired you to write about a book about understanding money and its related responsibilities for young children?

Jeannine: One of the first things I bought for my first grandchild when she was born was a $5 piggy bank. It sat on her dresser for three years hoping people would put coins in it. The book just came to me one day as I was thinking about Laney's fourth birthday coming up. I wrote it in 30 minutes and there has been very little changed. It seems to have taken on a life of its own and I realize now that, even though my life has seemed to push me into finance, my heart has always been to be a mother, and now a grandmother which is so much more fun. I'm hoping to do other books, all focusing on responsibility - it can be fun!

I feel like I'm being given the opportunity to do what I was born to do: Teach kids about being good, responsible citizens. Part of that is learning how to handle money.

Today, the future for our kids doesn't look as bright as it did for my kids.

We can't do a lot about what has happened to the finances of our country, but we can prepare our children to accept responsibility for their own lives and prepare for their futures. The JumpStart Coalition is working on high school students, and even Warren Buffett has indicated that he intends to do some things there. However, while I think that's great and needs to be done, habits which are started when a child is in preschool and elementary school seem to last and be easier to instill. That's what I'm hoping to do.

Annie: What is your best piece of advice for give parents raising young children?

Jeannine: Best piece of advice: This is more as a grandmother - When your grandchildren are around, don't plan anything else. Play with them - puzzles, games, tea parties, etc. As a mother: Forgive yourself for not being perfect, love your kids unconditionally and listen more than you talk (my biggest challenge).

To purchase this fabulous book or Mimi's other educational products, visit her website. In addition to stocking Mimi's book, the site is chock full of adorable piggy banks, educational DVDs, puzzles, books, games, toys and responsibility charts. It also has a very creative sections on fun food recipes to make with kids!

I hope you enjoy Mimi's books and activities as much as we have!

And just to let readers know, this will be my final post for the Tranquil Parent. I recently started a private practice in Denver, CO, and I am busier than I ever imagined, so I will be spending more time with my blossoming practice! I have really enjoyed blogging for the website and interacting with my readers, so thank you so much for your support and interest.

Is it difficult for you to ask for help or seek support from other people? If so, you are not alone! From a young age, many of us have learned that asking for help is a sign of weakness. This fear often keeps us isolated from the very people who would love to be there for us!

I'm here to tell you that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of intelligence.

If you are going to be the kind of parent you want to be along with having a satisfying professional/personal life, keeping your household going, nurturing your most important relationships and contributing to your community, you need support.

You probably know what it feels like when you need more help. You are tired and overwhelmed. Maybe you feel resentful or have a short fuse. You can’t seem to find the time or energy to take care of yourself and you constantly feel like you are behind schedule, falling short of your own standards and not being the parent you know you could be. You might complain that the weight of the world is on your shoulders, you feel like you are drowning/sinking or you just can’t get caught up. All you want to do is escape (and often you do by watching TV, eating comfort foods or zoning out in front of the computer). All of these are symptoms of a need for more support.

So, why don't we ask for help?

• We are afraid we will appear weak or needy.


• It is too hard to explain how to do it “ right” to someone else.


• We don’t want to be disappointed by others.


• We don’t want to be rejected.


• We don’t want to owe anyone anything.


• "I can do it better."


• We don’t want to inconvenience anyone.

All of these reasons are great excuses for not seeking support, but are they really valid? Ask yourself: "If my friend asked me to help him with a computer problem, would I judge him as weak? If my sister wanted my support with a challenge in her life, would I then feel she owes me something?" And maybe you can do a job better than someone else, but is doing it better or being right really your ultimate goal? Sometimes, we choose between being in control and being happy!

What are some good reasons to allow others to help?

• People feel valued and respected by you for their contributions when you let them help you. As humans, one of our primary desires is to contribute to each other.


• You empower others. You teach them to trust themselves, to be resourceful and take responsibility. Especially if the person helping is your child!


• It creates authentic connection between you and another person. Being vulnerable and "real" with someone else will only strengthen the relationship. If it doesn't, do you really want them in your life anyway?


• You share your wisdom when you pass on the things “only you can do.” What would your family do if they were not able to do all the things that “only you” can do?


• You are a role model for your children. You can show them to feel safe asking for help.

Take a few minutes to think about what you most need help with in your life right now. If you could pass off anything to another person, what would it be? What would be the most supportive thing another person could do for you?

Here are a few supportive ideas:

• Have your groceries delivered when you are feeling stressed. Most stores charge around $10. It is an added expense in these challenging times, but what is your time worth?
  
• Find a great housecleaning service to come once or twice per month and do a deep clean of your home.


• Hire a "mother's helper" one afternoon per week.


• Start a childcare share or co-op with like-minded families.


• Get together and bake or cook with friends. Start a soup swap.


• Share yardwork/gardening with friends in the spirit of "Barn raisings." Take turns doing each other's chores together!


• Ask family members to help more around the house and make specific requests.


• Find ways to get the kids excited (no nagging) about doing things for themselves like laundry (older kids), cleaning up toys and preparing food.


• Ask your partner to be more involved in something that is challenging for you.


• Share the details that only "you can do" like bill paying, changing the oil in the car or making your family's favorite dinner.

Economy got you down? Get back up with a new attitude and focus on the positive.

The current financial climate has many parents feeling concerned about the economic well-being of their families. The fear of job instability, a troubled housing market and lost savings in a souring economy can make a parent feel much less tranquil.

You might have noticed that the more attention and focus you give your fears, the bigger they seem and your options appear to shrink. While I don’t recommend being in denial or ignoring the facts of your life, I do know that keeping your attention on what is going well and maintaining a positive attitude can go a long way towards discovering a solution when you feel challenged.

Be creative: Often, the most difficult times awaken your inner resourcefulness. Think back on a time in your life when you successfully navigated a challenging situation. Likely, you applied your creative energy to reach a better outcome. By connecting to your inner resources instead of fear, you are more likely to take actions that will have more beneficial results. Here are some questions to ask yourself to inspire creative thinking:

• What is going well for me right now and why?


• Who do I know that is doing things differently and succeeding?


• What do I want to experience right now? What is the first thing I can do to move in that direction?

Reach out to your community and share resources. Instead of feeling competitive for assumed limited resources, think about how you might pool resources with your community members. Sharing childcare, working together on money-earning projects, sharing housing with another like-minded family, putting on clothing swaps and growing a neighborhood garden are all connected ways to work together.

Live your values. Now, more than ever, it is vital to live from your personal values. Maybe you have always believed in driving less and saving gas but have never taken the effort to make it a reality. Perhaps shopping locally makes good sense to you, but the big retailer is just down the street. Now is the time to put your money where your values are.

Learn more about simplicity and sustainability. One great way to save money is to practice simplicity. So much of the current crisis in our economy is due to living beyond our means in a very unsustainable way. If simplicity is a new concept to you or you want to deepen your understanding of the value of consciously choosing simplicity, Janet Luhr’s The Simple Living Guide: A Sourcebook for Less Stressful, More Joyful Living is a great resource. Living simply does not mean you have to move out of your house and live in a tent or confine your budget to ten dollars per day! Living simply means making conscious choices to use less, eliminating waste and delighting in having less to worry about. Keep in mind the old saying: the more you have, the more you have to worry about.

Redefine abundance! Consider that living an abundant life can mean being healthy, fulfilled and having loving relationships. By connecting with gratitude for the gifts you have right now in your life, you will be more in touch with what is truly important to you. What does abundance mean to you?

We all want to provide for our families and live in a thriving world, with opportunities and personal freedom. Collectively, the more often we choose sustainable lifestyles and live from our personal values, the more likely we are to create an economy which supports those practices and creates a healthier financial climate for families.