Young Author’s Contest

Brentwood Christian School holds a Young Author’s Contest each year, and it is a pretty big deal.   Several youngins, who went on to become established published authors made their start in this little contest.   It was probably not best mommy moment, but when Kaelan came home and announced she was entering this contest, I may have given her an encouraging smile on the outside, but on the inside I was full of dread.   I pictured the countless sleepless nights ahead of me working on the project with her.  I flashed back to my procrastinating ways and the days of Science Fair projects thrown together the night before their due date, term papers typed and stapled literally minutes before they were to be turned in.   I felt like this project was going to be the death of me.  

For the record, I blame a lot of this type of anxiety and procrastination issues on the rubber cement  fumes I inhaled during the backboard making for those science fair projects.

But really, there wasn’t all that drama.

This little gal had a plot, had a plan, and had  a story she wanted to tell.   She did ALL the writing herself AND the fabulous illustrations.

    She worked on it a little each night for about a month, and the final project was one not only a daddy and mommy would love.   

So did the judges.   A lot, in fact.   She was awarded “Most Outstanding  in Educational and Creative Writing for Elementary”   AND was invited to read her story aloud to an audience at a Barnes and Noble event.

Kaelan with her school librarian,(and award winning author), Sandra Morrow who was so awesomely encouraging during the whole process.

           

So many friends and family members came out to support Kaelan that day.   It was lovely.   I can’t tell you how many people came up to me afterwards in absolute shock that Kaelan is only a Kindergartner.   She read so eloquently, acted so posed, and made us so very proud.

She has NEVER been exposed to rubber cement fumes.  

Again, support for my theory.

   

 

 

 

 Just had to share these photos.  After the reading was over, Kaelan hung around and read to Zachary.   Zach has openly confessed his “crush” on Kaelan, and has asked her repeatedly to please not marry Darian and marry him instead.   Kaelan is always very nice to Zach about it, but she nicely declines his offer.  On this day, just as the audience was getting settled and Kaelan took the stage, I could hear Zach’s voice from across the room announce: “That’s my wife.   She said she won’t marry me right now, but I am going to get a job and have lots of money, so she will say yes.”    The crowd loved that.  

I don’t award her with certificates here on the home front, but she is quite outstanding, folks.