I wanted to share with you a little about Replay. In the book a boy named Leo struggles with finding ways to make his parents happy, including how to make them proud of him. He is an actor and a story weaver, a brother and a son, and the thing he wants most in the world is a little positive attention from his family. But they are so busy, four kids, jobs, family obligations, chores, etc. keep the family in constant chaos. But throughout the book Leo finds exactly what he is searching for, and he finds it in the empathy that grows inside him as he learns about who his father, Giorgio, was as a boy. Giorgio was a fun loving actor, singer, tap dancer, and yet Leo sees none of those things in his father the accountant. Leo learns that our lives are shaped by who we were, by the people we love, and life's changes can be both heart breaking and rewarding.
One chapter tells of how Leo's dad used to tell his kids each night, "the story of What We Did Today". Here's an excerpt from the book:
I'm sharing this with you to ask you to spend time telling your child about who you are, and who you were. Share with them your present day dreams, your broken dreams, and your childhood. As well, share with them "What We Did Today". Let them know that each day with them is a story worth telling, and that who they are today will help shape who they become tomorrow. Like Mr. Wallace says to us each day, "The choices you make today, shape your world tomorrow." Thank You Raccoons!
