“Thanks Aunt Liz!” Tales from a preventionist’s personal life

“Thanks Aunt Liz!” Tales from a preventionist’s personal life

POST BY LIZ ZADNIK

Liz Zadnik is the Capacity Building Specialist for NJCASA and passionate preventionist.  She has her masters in community psychology and social change from Penn State University; her work and research focuses on effective community-based change efforts and meaningful engagement.

I’ve been working in the anti-sexual violence movement for six years.  Before that I worked in sexual health and reproductive rights, as well as in the anti-domestic violence movement.  The last decade or so has been a journey toward a meaningful and lifelong identity: Activist.

Along the way my personal life has also given me another identity: Aunt.  I have five nieces ranging from three to 10 years old.  They are each their own magnificent person.  Independent. Brilliant. Hilarious. Creative. Compassionate.  Every time I’m with them I learn more about myself and think about the person I used to be – back before I knew everything I know now.  I try not to let my fears and outrage at the world keep me from being present with them.  I try to take off my Activist Hat as much as possible.

But sometimes that’s easier said than done.

In those times I try to find a way to communicate with them in their language and create a space where they always feel comfortable around Aunt Liz.  One of my favorite strategies is using books to connect.  Books are a great opportunity to practice skills together and have a light (but meaningful) conversation.

Here are some of my favorites:

  • The Angry Octopus: This is a great story to introduce deep breathing and stress relief into a bedtime (or anytime) routine.
  • You’ve Got Dragons:  A beautifully-illustrated book that normalized anxiety and ways of coping.  No worries, though, the dragons are friendly, not Game of Thrones-style.
  • You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses:  I love practicing yoga with two of my nieces – they have even been known to “teach” each other from time to time when I’m not around.  The illustrations are adorable and I dare you not to feel amazing after a few rounds of Lion’s Breath!
  • My name is NOT Isabella:  Probably my all-time favorite!  Isabella is a young girl who wakes up each day as a different woman from history – Sally Ride, Annie Oakley, Rose Parks, and others.  The back of the book has a short blurb about each of the women and is a great conversation starter about dreams and hopes and possibility.

Each of these books gives me a chance to be an Activist and Aunt at the same time (an Auntivist?).  I get to be my whole self and see how I’m stronger in both areas as a result.  I connect with them in a way that feels authentic to me and, in return, they get another enthusiastic and genuine caring adult in their life invested in keeping them safe, empowered, and confident.  It’s a win-win.

Please share your favorite children’s books on Twitter and Facebook and take a few minutes to read one to a child in your life.

P.S. Don’t forget to do different voices for each character!