Guest Post: I wrote a piece for WEGO Health about the Power of Communication

From the WEGO Health Blog

WEGO Health is proud to announce the recent publication of Scott Benner’s first book: Life is Short, Laundry is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Dad. Scott is the 2011 winner of the WEGO Health Activist Advocating for Another Award, and an amazingly engaged member of the WEGO Health network. In honor of this outstanding accomplishment, WEGO Health is giving away three copies of the book to members of our community. Today is the last day to enter the contest, so head on over to our Facebook page and share today’s post about Scott’s new book for your last chance to win a copy.  Not a big Facebook fan? You can also retweet WEGO Health to enter!

I hope that you can take a few moments today to read my guest post over on WEGO Health's blog. Here's a snippet of what I wrote:

It’s possible to face your challenges alone; I know that because I tried. But eventually the burden becomes too heavy and it can begin to drag you down. Alone you are one person pulling a mountain, but together, together we are unstoppable. On the days that are too much for me, I look to others to find the strength to carry on. Those people, those sometimes faceless friends that I have found online, they hold me up until I can stand again. Before I know it, I’m fine and ready to help them during their tough times.

WEGO is giving away three copies of my book today when you retweet or share their blog entry - good luck! Hey, even if you don't win today there is still time to enter my GiveAway for a signed copy of 'Life Is Short'.

What have you always wanted to say to your child's teacher

Is there something about type I diabetes that you always wanted to say to your child's teacher but just couldn't? A fact or maybe a personal story? Have you ever dreamt of telling the administrator (that looked at you cross when you asked for an addition to your child's 504 plan) that you haven't slept through the night in countless years? Have you even once considered telling someone to go $%#@ themselves but instead smiled and nodded?

Tomorrow I will be giving a workshop at the Hamilton, NJ Barnes & Noble to fifty teachers about 504 Plans from the families perspective. We'll be talking about why I think that forming good relationships is so vital for not just the child, but the family, the school and the educator.

If you have something that you'd like me to pass on into the world, something that you think would help an educator to better understand our lives - I'd love to carry your message to them. 

I genuinely believe that if the school could just get a glimpse into the world that we live in, they would become better partners in our children's education... and not just for children with type I diabetes.

There are so many families that would benefit from that understanding. Tomorrow I'm hoping to send a message that will reverberate beyond the few districts that will be represented. I want to leave them with a story that they will be touched and informed by, one that they will want to retell.

More information about the event is here on Barnes & Noble's website.

GiveAway: Signed copy of my new book.

Hello and welcome to my super blatant attempt to get you to share the news about my new book, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal'. Let's not mix words, I need your help getting the word out and I am giving away some of my personal stash of signed books in trade - sound fair? 

I like to keep giveaways simple so how about you post on FaceBook, Twitter or Pinterest something like, "I can't wait to read Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal - http://bit.ly/AdLIS" and then leave a comment under this post telling me where you shared, something like this, "I want to win and I posted on FaceBook". Just make sure to include this link http://bit.ly/AdLIS when you post - it points to a book info page on Arden's Day, not to any retailer.

If by some chance there is more than, let's say, 50 20 entries, I'll giveaway another book. If we reach 100 60 entries, I'll add a third book and so on until my supply runs low, the contest gets boring or I get scolded by my publisher for giving away books. 

Arden will draw a winner randomly from a hat, I'll contact you so you can choose how you'd like the book signed (nothing too dirty) and then personally mail you your book. Perhaps the lucky winner(s) will consider writing a short book review that I can post here on Arden's Day, maybe send a picture of you and your book?

As with any contest, please only enter once per book, one entry per person and let's say I reserve the right to make this up as we go along.

Update on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 8:32PM by Scott Benner

Contest is closed. Winner will be announced tomorrow. 4/23/13 8:30pm

Update on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 8:13AM by Scott Benner

The winner has been chosen!

Please contact me at ardensday@me.com to make shipping arrangements. Congratulations!

Excerpts from Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal

Today I'd like to share a few excerpts from Life Is Short. I've chosen three. Thanks to my publisher, Spry Publishing for allowing me to reprint the text.

 

First up, a bit from chapter 9. This chapter is titled, 'I Only Dropped Him Once'. 

"The cold was remarkably piercing. I found myself hoping that we would get through security quickly so that perhaps the excitement of the day would provide us with some artificial warmth as we waited at our seats for the festivities to begin. Politics aside, I was very excited for Cole to be present at such a historic occasion for our country. Of the millions of gatherers in attendance, I only saw maybe a handful of children Cole’s age. I felt very strongly that this day could create a lasting memory for Cole and that he would leave the Capitol with a story that few other people his age would ever be able to claim. That’s how I felt at 7:30, anyway.

At half past noon, I wasn’t so hopeful. Making it past the security gate now seemed unlikely. We had traveled baby step by baby step for the last five hours, and even though we could now see the gate, it still looked to be farther away than we could traverse in thirty minutes. I began to feel sad. I had gotten Cole so close to this, and he was going to leave completely disillusioned and unfulfilled. I began to ask myself why I hadn’t left earlier in the morning; should I have been less cattle-like in my acceptance of the line; what could I have done to secure a better outcome for us? I felt like I should have tried something different. We trudged along with a defeated look on our faces, and I began to talk to Cole about managing our expectations, wanting to ready him for the letdown that seemed to be just around the bend."

This small example is from chapter 2, 'What Is a Family'. 

"My father abandoned our family and my parents divorced when I was thirteen years old, but I never once considered that the man who walked out on us was anything but my father. Long after he had passed on, his departure remains one of the most devastating moments of my life. After he left, I would often in the middle of the night stand in our second-floor bathroom and look out on the road that led to our house. Even though I knew he wasn’t coming back, I’d allow myself to feel excited when the lights from a random car brightened the street. In the brief moments between seeing the headlights and watching the car drive past our house, I’d imagine what our lives would be like again if he’d only change his mind and come home. Other nights, I’d sneak down to the living room and pull out the family portrait that my mom had taken down and stuffed into the back of a coat closet. It was in a big frame, and I’d sit with it on the couch until I felt better."

Lastly, chapter 22,  the night Arden was diagnosed with type I diabetes. 'Her Breath Smells Funny'.

"It was sometime around three thirty in the morning when a man we had never met before told my wife and me that our daughter had type 1 diabetes and that “her life would never be the same.” I’ve always been thankful that Arden was sleeping when we heard the news because I couldn’t stop crying. I would have been even more devastated if I had cried in front of her. They ushered us into a tiny room outside of the ICU. I hesitate to call it a room, actually, because it was a space with a door, just large enough to hold an ugly vinyl loveseat and a small table with an outdated magazine. The nurse told us that they were going to stabilize Arden’s blood glucose and then come and get us. She told us we should rest, but what I think she meant was to get some sleep now because this would be our last opportunity for rest.
Kelly and I sat down, and without saying a word or even making eye contact, we leaned into each other and fell asleep. What I remember clearest about sitting down on that loveseat was that when we leaned on each other I felt something that I had never experienced before in my life. I could feel Kelly’s desperation and grief through her skin, and I was sure that she could feel mine."

Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Dad is on sale now everywhere that books are sold in paperback and all eReader formats. I hope that you enjoy my confessions!

Chapter Titles:

Laundry Is Indeed Eternal

What Is a Family?

The Path to Parenthood Starts with Sex

The Nine-Month Countdown

I Thought You Were Going to Keep Him Alive?

Quitting My Job Was Like Starting Over

A Typical Day at My Office

To Think I Was Worried About Baby Vomit

I Only Dropped Him Once

A Little Help from My Favorite Books

Lunch with the Lions

I May Be Growing Ovaries

Baseball, Part I

Baseball, Part II

I Remember Having Sex ... and the Baby Proves It!

Could I See You in the Basement for a Minute?

Sleep—Get It Now

Platitudes

There’s No Such Thing as Gender Specific

Two Perfect Years

Life Has a Way of Getting in the Way of Living

Her Breath Smells Funny

The Saddest That I Have Ever Been

Learning About Our New Reality

Writing on the Internet Saved Me

His Last Chapter

Acknowledgments

Life Is Short: Book Reviews

It was September of 2012 when I handed in the manuscript for my first book. Not more than an hour later, I began to wonder if readers would enjoy it. Then we sent it out into the world to find out if anyone was interested in reading and reviewing my baby. I can't tell you how nerve-wracking it was to open the first review...

"I was pulled into the book and couldn't put it down. As a pediatrician and a parent myself, I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun but poignant read-- Benner takes stay at home parenting, actually just parenting in general, to a whole new level."

"Scott's wisdom shines even more as he dives into the moments leading up to Arden's diagnosis..."

"Humorous and witty, this book will leaving you laughing in many places and touched in others."

"His unabashed “dad humor” brings a distinct charm to his writing without being mawkish or overly sentimental."

"... it was a joy to read and I would recommend it to anyone. Seriously, anyone. I can't think of a person who wouldn't enjoy reading this."

"The life lessons he shares are extremely powerful and have inspired me in ways that allow me to be a better mother, wife and person."

"Simultaneously funny, poignant, and tear-jerking..."

"I highly recommend reading Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Dad. Warning! Once you start, you will not be able to put it down."

"This is not only a great book about being a stay-at-home dad, but it is also a wonderful book about parenting generally.The stories and anecdotes guide you through what it is like to love and care for a child with a serious illness, and then lift parents with encouragement and hope, whatever the parenting challenges they face."

"What sets this book apart and takes it from a fun self-deprecating look at parenting to a moving story you will never forget is the chapter on his daughter Arden’s type-1 diabetes diagnosis."

Today 'Life Is Short' has twenty, five-star reader reviews on Amazon:

"I enjoyed all aspects of this book, it makes you laugh, want to cry and be happy all at the same time."

"This was a fantastic book from start to finish."

"Touching, uplifting read! - I was hooked on the first page!"

"Nothing I can remember has ever touched me more."

"It's one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read."

"Sweet, pithy and naughty - I had to finish it right away."

"The book reads quickly. I couldn't put it down and stayed up late to finish it. If this guy plans to continue writing, I look forward to his next work."

"Real, Relatable writing - Scott nails it with very real and relatable writing for everyone."

"A roller coaster ride of emotions, and opens himself and his life in a way that makes you feel you're there with him."

You can click here or go to Amazon to read these and other reviews in their entirety.

'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Dad' is on sale now in paperback and all of your favorite eReader formats.

So...

Long after this crazy week has passed and we get back to talking about type I diabetes... I will always remember how supportive and loving the DOC was to me. I'm never going to be able to thank you all enough for the support that you have shown me as I brought my book to the world. Thank you for reading, and for taking the time to tell a friend. When you share a FaceBook post, retweet a link or tell someone about the book you just read, well, you are doing more than perhaps you can imagine.

I hope today, just as I did last September, that you enjoy what I wrote. If you do, please consider adding your thoughts to iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Canadian Amazon and the rest. Reader reviews are the best and most effective way for 'Life Is Short' to find a wider audience.

My heartfelt gratitude,

Scott