Sometimes kids need help understanding chronic illness and disability, as well as recognizing and processing their own feelings. We hope these topics are an ongoing discussion in your family, and we love to review children’s books that may help you along the way!
How Many Marbles Do YOU Have?
Helping Children Understand The limitations of Those With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
By Melinda Malott
Mamas Facing Forward purchased a copy of this book to review, and then gave it away in a raffle on Instagram. All opinions in this review belong to Mariah Z. Leach.
In this brightly colored book, a little boy explains to the reader that his mother has fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. He begins by saying that his mom is the best mom in the whole wide world, and then goes on to explain how she needs to rest more than other moms.
It turns out this family has a fun way to display how much energy she has each day – a jar of marbles. The concept is similar to the Spoon Theory, but this family uses a real jar of marbles to create a visual to help the little boy understand his mom’s energy level. Throughout the day, his mom removes marbles from the jar as they do fun activities together.
Whether you are living with fibromyalgia, CFS, or another chronic illness, this book can help kids understand that you may feel differently from day to day. The boy and his mom also explain how they are creative in finding ways to save marbles, and that in the end love is more important than marbles.
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