Lacey Moore's Blog
November 20, 2024
How Motherhood Turned My Dream Into Reality
If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be writing children’s books while covered in Cheerios and dodging flying toy cars, I probably would’ve laughed (and asked for another cup of coffee). But life has a funny way of steering you toward your dreams, doesn’t it?
For 15 years, I was a high school English teacher, and I loved it. I lived for the moments when a student would “get it”—whether it was Shakespeare or sentence structure. But when my (then) 1-year-old needed more snuggles, and my (then) 7-year-old needed more mom time, I made the bittersweet decision to step away from teaching to focus on my family.
Little did I know, my years of lesson planning and storytelling weren’t done with me yet.
One day, while trying to entertain my youngest with an alphabet song that might have included questionable rhymes, inspiration struck. Could I make the ABCs even more fun and memorable for him? I started jotting rhymes on my phone during nap time and sketching doodles in his drawing pad. What began as a mom-on-a-mission project snowballed into something much bigger.
When I shared my rhymes with my sister—a kindergarten teacher with 21 years of experience—her reaction was everything I needed to hear: “This needs to be a book. My classroom needs this NOW!” That encouragement lit a fire in me. Could I really turn these little rhymes into something teachers and parents could use?
Writing children’s books had always been my dream. But up until that point, it had been one of those “maybe someday” dreams—the kind you daydream about while pushing a shopping cartScaly Feet and a Sound so Sweet: A rhyming alphabet adventure but don’t actually pursue. My sister’s nudge (or maybe shove?) was the catalyst I needed.
Fast forward a bit, and here I am, diving into the world of children’s books. My first project? A whimsical alphabet book designed to teach not just letters, but sounds, animals, objects, and even emotions. I wanted to create something that felt as joyful and imaginative as the very kids who would read it.
This journey has been filled with surprises, laughter, and a lot of rhyming words that refused to cooperate (seriously, what rhymes with orange?). But most of all, it’s been a reminder that it’s never too late to chase a dream—even if you’re chasing it with a toddler in one hand and a coffee cup in the other.
To all the parents, teachers, and dreamers out there: take that first step. You never know where it might lead. For me, it led to the alphabet, a lot of giggles, and a newfound love for writing stories that kids can enjoy and learn from.
Here’s to turning doodles and dreams into something magical!
For 15 years, I was a high school English teacher, and I loved it. I lived for the moments when a student would “get it”—whether it was Shakespeare or sentence structure. But when my (then) 1-year-old needed more snuggles, and my (then) 7-year-old needed more mom time, I made the bittersweet decision to step away from teaching to focus on my family.
Little did I know, my years of lesson planning and storytelling weren’t done with me yet.
One day, while trying to entertain my youngest with an alphabet song that might have included questionable rhymes, inspiration struck. Could I make the ABCs even more fun and memorable for him? I started jotting rhymes on my phone during nap time and sketching doodles in his drawing pad. What began as a mom-on-a-mission project snowballed into something much bigger.
When I shared my rhymes with my sister—a kindergarten teacher with 21 years of experience—her reaction was everything I needed to hear: “This needs to be a book. My classroom needs this NOW!” That encouragement lit a fire in me. Could I really turn these little rhymes into something teachers and parents could use?
Writing children’s books had always been my dream. But up until that point, it had been one of those “maybe someday” dreams—the kind you daydream about while pushing a shopping cartScaly Feet and a Sound so Sweet: A rhyming alphabet adventure but don’t actually pursue. My sister’s nudge (or maybe shove?) was the catalyst I needed.
Fast forward a bit, and here I am, diving into the world of children’s books. My first project? A whimsical alphabet book designed to teach not just letters, but sounds, animals, objects, and even emotions. I wanted to create something that felt as joyful and imaginative as the very kids who would read it.
This journey has been filled with surprises, laughter, and a lot of rhyming words that refused to cooperate (seriously, what rhymes with orange?). But most of all, it’s been a reminder that it’s never too late to chase a dream—even if you’re chasing it with a toddler in one hand and a coffee cup in the other.
To all the parents, teachers, and dreamers out there: take that first step. You never know where it might lead. For me, it led to the alphabet, a lot of giggles, and a newfound love for writing stories that kids can enjoy and learn from.
Here’s to turning doodles and dreams into something magical!
