Our featured guest Becky Blades
Artist, Entrepreneur, Civic Leader and Author of
"Do Your Laundry or You'll Die Alone
Advice Your Mom Would Give if She Thought You Were Listening
A Guide for Young Adults"
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
What began as a goodbye letter to her college bound daughter with "cheap laundry scare tactics" to snag her attention, has turned into the newest book by author Becky Blades which she calls "270 bite sized morsels" of coming of age, common sense topics and antidotes', today's guest on: The Woodbury Reports with host Lon Woodbury on K4hd.com- the home of Hollywood LA Internet Talk Radio and partnered with iHeart radio. Becky is an artist- who illustrated her book with her own mixed media artwork, an entrepreneur, civic leader and the self-starter of approximately 2,865 projects!
Having started this letter a year before her oldest daughter was set to leave for college, Becky started a list of things maybe she had missed teaching her daughter, things from silly to serious, from common sense to courtesy and everything in between, including last minute lectures on topics like cell phone etiquette, RSVP's, budgeting and forgiveness. "We don't know what they don't know" Becky explained. And there are so many distractions in these young adults' lives- they are bombarded with messages, tweets and feeds and feel there is a subliminal obligation to respond."
This marvelous light hearted book touches on ways our kids can put us parents at ease when they do go off on their own such as- "tell your mom when the crisis is over, you can call your mom as you do your laundry, cell phones at the dinner table are rude" and hundreds more.
Another subject that came up during the interview was "empty nest syndrome" and as Becky shared- it is a very real thing and can happen especially if we feel our kids aren't ready to be on their own. "What I learned was it was 'me' that wasn't ready to live in a household without her. Mother's get so involved in their kids' lives and focus so much of their energy on this person- this masterpiece and then someone comes and carts it away! We fantasize they will come home for holidays and summers and everything will be picturesque- but it just doesn't turn out that way. The thing is, this is the most exciting times of their lives and I need to stay out of the way."
Once again, we would like to thank Rich Simpson - owner of Pathways, a transitional living program- and his students for creating our opening music for "The Woodbury Reports" K4HD.com radio show.
Please join us each Tuesday at 12:00 noon- PST- with host, Lon Woodbury on K4HD.com, home of Hollywood LA Internet Talk Radio- partnered with iHeart Radio. This live show is broadcast weekly with guests who specialize in the issues and struggles of teens, adolescents, young adults and their families. They are informed, interesting, cutting edge, funny and always willing to share tips and new information as it becomes available.
