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Mama's Waves
Ellie's mom did not come for their visit, and Ellie is stuck in a cloud of sadness and anger as she tries to understand why. Fortunately, Miss K. and Ellie's Uncle Finny are there to help her. Using the metaphor of a wave, they help Ellie talk about and understand her mother's ups and downs, recognize and hold on to loving memories, and know that she is not alone.
Millions of young children live in families with an adult who is struggling due to trauma (ACEs), mental illness (PTSD, depression, bipolar), substance abuse, or other addiction. Mama's Waves was written for any child who has a family member who struggles with emotional waves whether they live together or not.
The story was developed to open doors to conversations that young children need to have. When family members have challenges, young children worry about them and often have many difficult questions. They need the help of grown-ups within and outside their families
To have language for the challenges that their parents face
To know that they can talk about tough times and good times
To better understand why their parent may not be around
And, very importantly, to keep good memories alive because these memories shape their view of themselves as worthy of love
Mama's Waves shows us that these conversations are possible, important, and support healing and connection.
While the book was written specifically for children whose parents have struggled with addiction or mental illness, other children may benefit from having language and dialogue that helps them to empathically understand the challenges that too many families are facing.
Mama's Waves is the first book in the Ellie Bean series and was developed by the team that created Once I Was Very Very Scared, You Weren't With Me, Holdin Pott, and the Trinka and Sam story series as tools to help families heal after stressful or traumatic events.
Millions of young children live in families with an adult who is struggling due to trauma (ACEs), mental illness (PTSD, depression, bipolar), substance abuse, or other addiction. Mama's Waves was written for any child who has a family member who struggles with emotional waves whether they live together or not.
The story was developed to open doors to conversations that young children need to have. When family members have challenges, young children worry about them and often have many difficult questions. They need the help of grown-ups within and outside their families
To have language for the challenges that their parents face
To know that they can talk about tough times and good times
To better understand why their parent may not be around
And, very importantly, to keep good memories alive because these memories shape their view of themselves as worthy of love
Mama's Waves shows us that these conversations are possible, important, and support healing and connection.
While the book was written specifically for children whose parents have struggled with addiction or mental illness, other children may benefit from having language and dialogue that helps them to empathically understand the challenges that too many families are facing.
Mama's Waves is the first book in the Ellie Bean series and was developed by the team that created Once I Was Very Very Scared, You Weren't With Me, Holdin Pott, and the Trinka and Sam story series as tools to help families heal after stressful or traumatic events.
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2020
24 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 3, 2023
3 stars. I picked this up because I struggle with depression myself and I thought maybe this would be a good book to read with my future children. I’m not sure what to think about it...? It was a cool idea… and it was cute… I just felt like it underdelivered a bit? To be fair though I’m not a kid, so. I don’t know. I’ll be keeping this around though, and I think it could probably be useful as a stepping-stone perhaps to explaining these types of issues to kids.
N.B. This book is 100% the same as Daddy’s Waves except it’s about a mother instead (obviously).
N.B. This book is 100% the same as Daddy’s Waves except it’s about a mother instead (obviously).
July 23, 2021
Oh, how I love this beautiful little book that gives words to the experience of a child whose adult is struggling and can't be the best parent or even be present - because of trauma, addiction, mental illness, or another reason.
The book opens with Ellie Bean's disappointment that her mother has not shown up for a scheduled visit. Author Chandra Ghosh Ippen gives words to and illustrator Erich Ippen beautifully shows Ellie's varied reactions to this kind of disappointment: sometimes lashing out verbally, sometimes being destructive, sometimes being stuck in sadness and anger. The author shows Eppie's caregiver staying present and being kind, even when her attempts "aren't working". Sometimes presence and consistency is the best one can do.
The author then introduces two coping mechanisms: yelling (getting feelings out) in a safe place, like facing the waves of the ocean, and connecting with another person with words. The metaphor of the waves is used to explain the waxing and waning of a parent's ability to be present and parent, and also to the highs and lows of mood and the ups and downs of a traumatic childhood. Ellie's uncle joins Ellie and Ms. K at the beach and shows Ellie that it is okay to remember an unreliable parent with love, to remember the highs as well as the lows, to embrace the beauty and magic in loving and being loved by someone, even when they aren't consistent in their ability to be around.
The metaphor of the waves gives hope that the parent may return, and also opens up opportunities to discuss why a parent might not be around, and why it is okay to talk about good times and bad times.
Mama's Waves can provide mirrors for children who may be coping with parental absence or emotional abandonment and can open doors for conversations and connections with children who may be hurting. It can also be helpful for children whose friends are facing these situations.
In the rare children's books that address parental mental illness or addiction, the parent is sometimes portrayed as a lost cause, a source of nothing but pain. But that is rarely the case for children, whose emotional bond to an inconsistent caregiver can be strong and loyal, based on legitimately happy and good memories, despite the fact that they may be few and far between. Mama's Words opens doors for children to love their inconsistent parent and embrace happy memories while also making space for expressing sadness and disappointment.
I loved the illustrations throughout. Highly recommended for elementary classrooms, libraries, and school counselors.
The book opens with Ellie Bean's disappointment that her mother has not shown up for a scheduled visit. Author Chandra Ghosh Ippen gives words to and illustrator Erich Ippen beautifully shows Ellie's varied reactions to this kind of disappointment: sometimes lashing out verbally, sometimes being destructive, sometimes being stuck in sadness and anger. The author shows Eppie's caregiver staying present and being kind, even when her attempts "aren't working". Sometimes presence and consistency is the best one can do.
The author then introduces two coping mechanisms: yelling (getting feelings out) in a safe place, like facing the waves of the ocean, and connecting with another person with words. The metaphor of the waves is used to explain the waxing and waning of a parent's ability to be present and parent, and also to the highs and lows of mood and the ups and downs of a traumatic childhood. Ellie's uncle joins Ellie and Ms. K at the beach and shows Ellie that it is okay to remember an unreliable parent with love, to remember the highs as well as the lows, to embrace the beauty and magic in loving and being loved by someone, even when they aren't consistent in their ability to be around.
The metaphor of the waves gives hope that the parent may return, and also opens up opportunities to discuss why a parent might not be around, and why it is okay to talk about good times and bad times.
Mama's Waves can provide mirrors for children who may be coping with parental absence or emotional abandonment and can open doors for conversations and connections with children who may be hurting. It can also be helpful for children whose friends are facing these situations.
In the rare children's books that address parental mental illness or addiction, the parent is sometimes portrayed as a lost cause, a source of nothing but pain. But that is rarely the case for children, whose emotional bond to an inconsistent caregiver can be strong and loyal, based on legitimately happy and good memories, despite the fact that they may be few and far between. Mama's Words opens doors for children to love their inconsistent parent and embrace happy memories while also making space for expressing sadness and disappointment.
I loved the illustrations throughout. Highly recommended for elementary classrooms, libraries, and school counselors.
September 8, 2021
Emotions and trauma with children is hard. Finding a way to get them talking sometimes is harder. This book gives simple and realistic ways to begin conversations about parents struggling with issues.
February 8, 2021
A good option for helping kids to understand parent mental illness.
July 11, 2022
Not what I expected
The book seemed very vague and lead to even more questions. Questions about what the book is about. What they’re talking about. Etc.
The book seemed very vague and lead to even more questions. Questions about what the book is about. What they’re talking about. Etc.
March 25, 2024
Ow. My heart.
I thought I finished crying today. Then "We're not going to let the waves drown your mommas magic and love" happened.
10/10 would read to a child.
I thought I finished crying today. Then "We're not going to let the waves drown your mommas magic and love" happened.
10/10 would read to a child.
June 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews