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Grab your sunscreen, picnic baskets, and beach reads--June marks the official start of summer! In addition to heat waves and sun rays, June also commemorates Fathers, LGBTQ Pride Month, and the start of summer vacation. All of that extra sunlight means longer days and more time for gardening, playing, reading, or whatever form your bliss may take. We're gearing up for a lot of exciting developments at Self Esteem Shop this summer. In between planning a new website and stocking all the newest summer releases, fathers and father figures are on our mind.
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Harry and I find all kinds of ways to occupy ourselves when we're on long car rides traveling to conferences. One of our favorite activities is to flip through the local radio stations and guess the meanings of songs that pop up. After the song is over, we check out a website like SongMeanings to see if we were close. On our last car trip, Dan Fogelberg's oldie-but-goodie, "Leader of the Band," played on one of the radio stations we were scanning. Sometimes when you really like a song, the lyrics get lost, but when you listen to "Leader of the Band," Fogelberg's heartwarming ode to his father really shines through.
An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son
His hands were meant for different work
And his heart was known to none
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay
A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once, but his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love through discipline, a thundering velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band
My brother's lives were different for they heard another call
One went to Chicago and the other to St Paul
And I'm in Colorado when I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life I've chose and come to know so well
I thank you for the music and your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough
And papa, I don't think I said I love you near enough
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band
I am a living legacy to the leader of the band
(lyrics from SongMeanings.net)
This song is a message of gratitude for fathers and those who become our father figures. We might not always end up the way our parents envisioned us, but the unconditional love they afford us despite that fact is unfaltering. The late Dan Fogelberg said of this song, that "The song 'Leader of the Band' cemented our relationship. There was nothing left unsaid when he passed away."
Take this upcoming Sunday to say all the things you've been meaning to say to your father. Take a cue from Dan Fogelberg and put it a creative project if you're not one for words.
 Of course, I think that books are a great way to do this as well. The beautiful Dad: My Hero is a hardcover book full of inspirational quotes, anecdotes, and frank sentiments to remind the world that a father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you are. The simple design is one that dads are sure to appreciate, it gives it an elegant touch without being too over-the-top. Prop it up on the fireplace or dining table and let it do some of the talking for you. See
Dad: My Hero on our website here
Pride is for Everyone
The month of June also marks the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The historic Stonewall Riots took place in New York City when the gay community and allies fought back against police raids persecuting patrons at the Stonewall Inn for "immoral" behavior. This is often thought to be one of the events that spurred the gay rights movement and many LGBTQ pride events take place every June to commemorate the events of June 1969. Check your local newspapers and event listings for pride and ally events happening near you. LGBTQ pride stands for the total equality of all people. Support your friends and neighbors in the gay community and celebrate the importance of diversity in our world today.
 A Tale of Two Daddies has been a favorite of mine for a while and what an appropriate month to share it. It's so adorable. The story is told as a dialogue between two children on the playground. One little girl explains how each one of her dads contributes to her life, "Daddy is my soccer coach/ Poppa cooks me eggs and toast." This is a great learning tool for all children and an effective kickstarter for further discussion. Vanita Oelshlager also wrote an accompanying version called A Tale of Two Mommies.
 I suggest The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes to Their Younger Selves for teens, parents, and practitioners alike for a hindsight view on the experience of being a gay youth. Sixty-three established authors share their stories in the form of writing letters to their younger selves. This book was published earlier this year and its relevancy to the current times is fabulous. Half the royalties from this project will go toward supporting the Trevor Project, the only nationwide 24-hour suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ Teens. The Letter Q is really beyond touching.
For more on the Trevor Project, visit their website at http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Another great outreach initiative is the It Gets Better project founded by Dan Savage and his partner, Terry Miller. Both of the projects are great sources of hope and inspiration for LGBTQ youth during the time of life that is most difficult for most people--the teenaged years. Check out the It Gets Better project at http://www.itgetsbetter.org/
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As a thank you to all of you wonderful people that the time to read our newsletter, we're offering 10% off of your order plus free shipping when you enter JuneNews at checkout. Tell your friends! This deal cannot be combined with any other discounts ands expires June 19, 2012. The free shipping offer is only valid in the continental U.S. and this discount is not valid at conferences.
As promised in last month's newsletter--we delivered! Contact us for half off of an annual subscription to Wiley journals. Shoot us an e-mail at info@selfesteemshop.com for all of the details.
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We Always Love Hearing From You!
If you have suggestions or inquires regarding our website, product line, or need help finding titles or resources, please feel free to contact our friendly staff.
You can email us at info@selfesteemshop.com
or call us toll-free at (800) 251-8336
Please know that while we are constantly updating our website, it still contains only a small fraction of the materials we have in our store. If you are looking for something in particular and cannot find it, please give us a call. If we do not have it in stock, we will order it right away and ship it to you. We are always happy to assist you. Thank you for supporting our independent bookstore!
Keep an eye out for our new website, which is currently in the works. Soon Self Esteem Shop will be even easier to browse and more appealing to look at. We'll definitely keep all of our loyal friends and customers updated on the unveiling.
From the Self Esteem Shop Team
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| Come visit us at these great conferences |
June 15
Boys & Girls at Risk Emerging Science of Gender Differences
Madison, WI
Keynote Speakers: Cynthia Burggraf Torppa
June 18-19
Virginia Association for Play Therapy 16th Annual "Come Play With Us" Conference
Becoming a Brain-Wise Therapist: Using Play Therapy & Expressive
Arts Across the Lifespan
Harrisonburg, VA
Featured Presenter: Bonnie Badenoch
June 23-26
American School Counselor Association Conference
Minneapolis, MN
Keynote Speakers: Dan Savage, Stacey Bess, Jamie Vollmer
June 25-26
Appalachian Play Therapy Center 4th Annual Conference
A Mythic Fairy Tale of Dreams: Jungian Play Therapy with Children
Columbia, Kentucky
Featured Presenter: Eric Green
June 27-28
Kentucky Council for Children with Behavior
Disorders Behavior Institute 2012
Lexington, KY
Featured Speakers: Mr.Mojo (Travis Brown), Marcia Tate, Dianna
Browning-Wright, Marlene Wong
June 27-30
APSAC 20th Annual Colloquium
Chicago, IL
Featured Speakers: Victor Vieth, Kathleen Faller, Cynthia Swenson,
David Kolko, Geraldine Crisci, Mary Jo Barrett, Cheryl Lanktree, Jon Conte
July 10-13
National Institute for Trauma & Loss in Children
Childhood Trauma
Practitioner's Assembly
Clinton Twp, MI
Featured Speakers: William Steele, Caelan Kuban, Pamela Lemerand, Gretchen
Miller, Linda Peterson-St.
Pierre, Dave Opalewski
July 13-14
Johns Hopkins 2012 Play Therapy Institute
Rekindling Hope in Children Shattered by Trauma
Rockville, MD
Featured Presenters: Eilana Gil, Eric Green, & David Crenshaw
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Self Esteem Shop
32839 Woodward Ave.
Royal Oak, MI 48073
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