Getting back on the highway with Lea Curtes-Swenson
New Children’s Book Helps Preschoolers Handle Mommy’s Return to Work
Welcome back to the On-Ramp! In our quest to help you make your way back to the (paid) working world, we’ve discovered a darling new book for helping your kids understand what’s happening: Oscar the Pig: Mommy Goes to Work.
Oscar, a round, almost edible-looking little pig with tiny feet and curly tail, is faced with a new development in his (presumably preschool) life – his mommy is going back to work. Clearly, the little guy is worried. Who will take care of me? Will Mommy come back? Does Mommy still love me?
Aha – classic separation anxiety! (Which, by the way, experts say can reappear later in kids’ lives in times of stress – as opposed to the normal developmental ages of 12-14 months.)
With straightforward text and simple but whimsical illustrations, Oscar the Pig answers Oscar’s questions, and goes much further – look for helpful coping tips for parents, embedded into the story:
For example, it becomes clear that Mommy has previously introduced Oscar to his new caregiver, a goggle-eyed hen named Mrs. Tutu (coping hint #1). And Mrs. Tutu obviously remembers from their first meeting that Oscar likes trains, so planned something special for him along those lines (coping hint #2). Then, when it’s time for Mommy to go, she and Oscar engage in what seems like their special ritual: Piggy kisses! (Coping hint #3 – the ritual, not the piggy kisses, per se. 
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The book then takes an adventurous turn, with Mrs. Tutu taking Oscar on a memorable, magical adventure on their first day together. Oscar meets a new friend and his caregiver, and they talk about their moms who work – before losing themselves in the moment, playing with trains and learning new things.
By the time Mommy comes home, Oscar has successfully made it through his day, and is excited to share his discoveries with her. It’s a warm and reassuring story – one that is sure to help many On-Ramp Moms in the back-to-work transition.
Oscar the Pig is the first book in a series being developed by Megan Calhoun, the founder of Twittermoms (a social networking and community site for moms). Published by Silly String Media, the book is available at Amazon.com ($16-$18) or at OscarThePig.com.
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