Christine A Adams - Happy to Be Me!: A Kids Book about Self-esteem

Written by

Christine Adams and Robert J. Butch

Illustrated by

R. W. Alley

Abbey Press

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

Text copyright 2001 by Christine Adams and Robert J. Butch

Illustrations copyright 2001 by St. Meinrad Archabbey

ISBN: 978-1-4976-8298-6

Abbey Press Publications
1 Hill Drive
St. Meinrad, Indiana 47577
www.abbeypress.com

Distributed by Open Road Distribution
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.openroadmedia.com

For the young children in our lives:

Harrison Edward Hanley
Benjamin Michael Firsick
James Elliot Firsick
Daryl James McKenna
and
Diana Mary Butch

What Is Self-esteem?

S elf-esteem means how you feel about yourself.

G ood self-esteem is a feeling inside that reminds you every day, I am loved. I am good. I am happy to be me. Good self-esteem means knowing you are a wonderful personbecause God made you that way.

Y ou dont have to be the fastest or smartest or best-looking kid to have good self-esteem. Youre a star just the way you are!

Who Are You?

Y ou have a first, middle, and last name. You have a certain kind of hair, skin, eyes, and smile. You are good at some things and not as good at other things.

P eople may say, You seem like a very nice girl. Or, What a polite boy! Or, Youre really good at that. Sometimes people may say things about you that are not so nice. But the words people say about you are not who you are.

S o who are you, really? You are a special child of God. You are someone who deserves to be loved. And you are lovedby God, by your parents, and by many other people.

Everyone Is Differentand Special!

I f you put ink on your finger and press it on a paper, it will make a certain pattern. No one else in the whole world can make that same fingerprint.

T heres only one YOU. You dont need to do anything special to be specialyou already are!

E very child is different. Kids come in all kinds of colors, shapes, and sizes. Some kids speak English. Some speak Spanish. Some speak Chinese. Some kids use sign language. God gives each one special love.

You Are a Gift to the World

E veryone has special gifts to bring to the world.

J ames is good at making people laugh. Alisha knows just the right thing to say when someone is sad. Luis can fix things that are broken. Jameel helps collect money for the homeless. Renee draws beautiful pictures. Other kids look to Chris to help settle arguments during kickball.

T he world needs all kinds of people with all kinds of gifts: helpers, fixers, peacemakers, artists. What special gifts do you have to give the world?

Be Your Own Best Self

T here may be times when you are not glad to be you. You might even want to be someone else.

M aybe you wish you could play soccer like Harrison, sing like Kathleen, or do math like Ben. Maybe you feel like your dad or mom wants you to be the best in something, but you just cant seem to get it.

N o one is the best in everything. Some kids can do math but cant play soccer. Some can play soccer but cant sing. Some can sing but cant do math. You have special gifts that God gave you.

Be Your Own Best Friend

Y ou can be your own best friend by taking good care of yourself.

Y ou can eat good food and stay away from things that are bad for your body. You can wear a bike helmet. You can be sure not to play with dangerous things or in dangerous places.

W hen you are your own best friend, you ignore the voice inside you that may say, I cant do this because Im not good enough. You tell yourself instead, I can do this. I am smart enough to try by myself or ask for help.

Be a Friend to Others

Y ou can make others feel special by being a good friend. Try to share and take turns. If you see a kid learning how to ride a bike, tell him, Good job!

T ry to remember peoples names and say, Hi. It also makes people feel special when you say, Please, Thank you, and Excuse me. It makes the teacher feel special when you follow the rules and listen in class.

E very day try to do something kind for someone else. For example, if you see a classmate sitting alone on Parents Day, ask her to sit with you and your mom or dad.

When Things Change

I f you have a big change in your life, it can make you wonder whether you are still special and loved.

I f you get a new baby brother, for example, lots of people may give him presents. You might wonder if he is going to take your special place in the family.

T alk to your parents about this. They love you just because youre you. No one else could ever take your place.

I f someone close to you has to go away, you are still very special to that person. Maybe you can write, phone, or email to stay in touch. You can think about each other during the day and say a little prayer.

Loving Your Family

W hen your mom gets busy, you can offer to feed the baby. If your dad is too tired to play ball, you can decide not to bug him. Maybe you could teach your younger sister how to tie her shoes.

S ometimes you might feel like your parents treat your brother or sister better than you. Maybe your brother gets to stay up later. Or you got yelled at for something your sister did.

T ell your parents how you feel. They will let you know how much they love you and how special you are. Your parents have enough love for everyone in your family.

Making Mistakes

E verybody makes mistakes. You might want to win a game so much that you add extra points to your score. You might take your little sisters toy, or get mad and yell at your friends.