“I had so many dreams as a child. At
about 14 years of age, something just
happened to me inside. I decided to
get myself together. I went on a healthy
diet, lost a lot of weight, and decided to
focus my life on the theater. However,
my school life did not improve. I was
actually dismissed from The Hockaday School in Dallas at age16. Looking
back, I guess it was a blessing, because
it made me want to succeed, to prove
myself. So, I went on to receive a Master’s degree in Acting and Directing.
AftergraduationIbecametheassistant
director, in the Palo Alto Children’s
Theater in Palo Alto, California. I just
set my vision on what I wanted to do in
life. I just went out and did it- I had to.
I was driven to succeed, and prove my
self worth to myself.
I really am grateful for my childhood.
It made me the woman I am today. All
the pain and hardship created a true
desire in my heart to help others. I
began writing children’s books to help
parents and children discover who
they truly are. I didn’t want to see one
person have to give up their dream,
like my mother did. The key to a good
and happy life, is to be able to discover
your talents and self worth, then go on
to use them for the better good of all.
When I wrote, “The Wizard of Oz
Is In You,” I wanted children to realize that everything they wanted and
desired they already possessed. It was
already inside of them. They just had
to discover their talents and develop
them. Both of my books are interactive
and are designed to create true communication between adults and children. For instance, in The Wizard of
Oz Is In You, Dorothy’s’ Ruby slippers
represent a childs’talents. By using a classic fairytale, and developing
interactive questions between parent and child in modern times, children can discover their talents in a magical fun way. When we use our
gifts we are happy people- especially when we help our fellow man.”
didn’t like school because I was always so far behind. I began to bury
my feelings in food, and became very heavy. (Barbara is now a size
zero!) I endured horrendous teasing on the bus every day. The kids
would yell out “fatty, fatty.” It was so hurtful. It was compounded by
the fact that I didn’t do well in school. I guess the only self worth I
experienced, was becoming a nurturer to my younger sister Peggy.
Since our home life was very sad and dysfunctional, I could refer to
myself as“co-dependant.”However, I feel there is a very positive side
WRITTEN BY: FREYA PRUITT
to being a nurturer.”
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Woman
TEXAS
FREDERICKSBURG
www.fbgwoman.com