Sunday, April 1, 2012

A to Z: Babushka




When I was in middle school, my mother would make me wear scarves to school on cold winter days.  I didn't like it because it made me feel old.  When it comes to writing, it shouldn't matter how old you may be...it's how old the "child" is inside you.  Why not be like Maria Leibrock Epsztein?  In 2006, at 92 years young, she decided to finally write a story of her life during the Holocaust.  It was called "Motherhood Behind Barbed Wire" and published by the Polish-Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada.  Pretty good for a first time author, don't you think?





Begin at the Beginning
Written by: Amy Schwartz
Illustrated by: Amy Schwarts
ISBN: 10-0060001119
Ages: 3-8
Teaser:  When Sara is told to make a painting for a school art show, she decides to paint the best painting ever.  But Sara soon learns that trying to be the biggest isn't always the best way to go.    Will Sara finish her painting in time for the show?
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44 comments:

  1. Ms Saba (aka Teacher007.5)April 1, 2012 at 11:57 PM

    Sounds like a fun read? Now I want to see that painting!! :D

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 8:27 AM

      Thanks, and welcome to my blog! Don't you know that painting would be incredible! Lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  2. D.E. MaloneApril 2, 2012 at 12:00 AM

    'Babushka' is such a great word. My grandmother used to wear one, and I still have it. Looking forward to more of your posts!

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 8:29 AM

      The only one that I could actually stand wearing was a red and black tartan one...and that's probably because I'm part Scotish...;0)

      Thanks, Dawn, for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  3. stephen HayesApril 2, 2012 at 12:03 AM

    Did you take off the scarf the moment you left the house, or did you honor your mother and actually wear it?

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 8:30 AM

      Lol, Stephen, I guess you could say I compromised. I took it off right before I walked into the school. My mother was a very strict disciplinarian and I wouldn't dare push the limits with what I could get away with...lol...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  4. Kelley LynnApril 2, 2012 at 12:42 AM

    Wow. Good for Maria. Its so true. Age is in our minds.

    And perhaps our limbs ;) But we can ignore those aches and pains :)

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 8:31 AM

      Yes, Kelly, I have come to realize that my body is no spring chicken anymore...lol...thank God my mind still is! ;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  5. Rosalind AdamApril 2, 2012 at 4:14 AM

    Is that photograph of Maria Epsztein? There's so much character in that face. If she was a Jewish grandma then her grandchildren would have called her Bubba which is another B for today's challenge.

    I’m doing the A to Z Challenge too at A to Z of Nostalgia

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 8:33 AM

      No, Rosalind, that is just a stock photo of what a "babushka" would look like. The actual picture of Ms. Epsztein actually makes her look MUCH younger than her age...despite her horrible experience, she aged well...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  6. jpApril 2, 2012 at 6:58 AM

    Well Donna you have inspired me. I don't know what this A-Z challenge is but I feel I should make an effort and have decided on the A-Z of Issues which I will post on my blog in due course. As for your teaser, this came to mind.

    Sara was a colourful girl with big ideas and her painting was going to be the biggest and best ever. The whole town was behind her and marvelled at her work, then tragedy struck. The suppliers of her art materials bore sad tidings.
    "I'm sorry but with the current crisis we find our stocks depleted of both red and blue paint"

    Sara went red in the face but the hue and cry and colourful language which followed left the townsfolk red-faced. More paint was sent for from overseas and very soon two ships set sail, one carrying blue paint the other carrying red.

    It seemed Sara's painting would be saved but a fierce storm blew up and the ships collided sinking them both. Sara was in tears but not for her artwork. She thought of the sailors and their families. As the red and blue paint swirled and mixed together on the surface of the sea the sailors swam to the shore of a desert island. Sara wailed....
    "It's all my fault those sailors have been marooned"

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 8:41 AM

      JP, the A to Z Challenge happens every April where participants have 26 days (not including Sunday, except yesterday) to create a blog post based on each letter of the alphabet. Here is the link to give you more information...http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

      Currently there are over 1600 bloggers that are joining in on the fun and you can blog about ANYTHING as long as you are using the right letter for your post. I think you have until like midnight tonight to still sign up if you want to join in...GREAT way to get some more people to see your blog. Some people choose themes...like my double header theme...while others are just writing what comes to mind for that letter on that day. The challenge itself it so see if people can stay focussed enough to blog every day when most people only do it once or twice a week.

      The daily thing is a piece of cake for me since I do it anyway...that's why I chose a double-header theme...basically I'm doing double the work now through the end of the month. FYI...I was wondering where you were going with your story until the very last line and then I had to laugh! Very clever...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
    2. jpApril 2, 2012 at 8:50 AM

      Thanks I will look into signing up. I have posted 'A' already and scheduled 'B' for later today.

      The townsfolk should have been 'left feeling blue' but hey, I was in a hurry :)

      Delete
    3. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 9:06 AM

      I just posted a comment on your post for the letter A...great job by the way!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  7. farawayeyesApril 2, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    Hey Donna,nice to meet you. Raised as a little Polish girl (half) in Chicago,I know the Babushka well. Love that word.

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 9:12 AM

      Hi there and welcome to my blog! I just visited your blog, am a new follower, and LOVE the beach scene...I might have to use it one day on one of my own posts...lol...I also like the word Babushka...just didn't care for the scarves...;0)

      Good luck with the challenge! Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  8. patientdreamerApril 2, 2012 at 9:29 AM

    I only know Babushka as an old Russian Woman. Bought dolls when in Russia called Babushka dolls. I wondered if you took your scarf off the moment you were out of sight of your home....lol.

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 9:59 AM

      Diane, the term Babushka actually means grandmother in Russian or the more generic term "old woman". I used to have a set of Babushka dolls when I was younger but they got lost along the way in one of my many, many moves over the years. And yes, I removed the scarf before I went into the school building...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  9. Miranda HardyApril 2, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    Love this word. I call my son my little babushka, even though it means old woman or scarf. I just love the word. Lol

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 10:00 AM

      I agree, Miranda...LOVED the word...HATED the scarf...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  10. Jarm Del BoccioApril 2, 2012 at 9:53 AM

    Yep, we are never to old to begin our story. I love the photo! I am called 'Busha' by my grandkids (at my request)...my background is Slavic, so it fits. Thanks for the encouragement, Donna!

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 10:02 AM

      Awww, what a lovely tribute to you, Jarm! Today I might not mind so much to wear the scarf, but when you are 8 or 9 years old and already from the poor side of town, you don't want to add fuel to the teasing fire...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  11. Susanna Leonard HillApril 2, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    I agree - you're never too old to try something new, and it's never too late to start something - what better time tan now? THe book looks like fun :)

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 10:11 AM

      I've waited over 40 years to take my writing seriously and I don't come from a long living ancestry, so why wait? ;0) (Also loved the map of Phyllis' world tour, by the way!)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  12. janetApril 2, 2012 at 10:54 AM

    Good for you, Ms. Epsztein. I guess at 54, I'm not too old,either.

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 11:11 AM

      EVERYONE has a tale to tell, Janet, and NO ONE is too old to tell it! ;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  13. AnonymousApril 2, 2012 at 11:21 AM

    Are the Babushka dolls the ones that fit inside of each other? I had a set of those that were brought back from Russia. My son had a set of plastic blocks with letters and symbols on them. He also had a onsie outfit from Russia that I have packed away.

    Enjoyed your post.

    Susanne
    PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 11:28 AM

      Yes, Susanne, Babushka dolls fit inside each other and can be images of people, animal, things, etc. I'm glad you enjoyed the post.

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  14. S. L. HennessyApril 2, 2012 at 11:38 AM

    That sounds really really sad, but I bet it's fascinating. Great post! Happy A-Z blogging!

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 12:40 PM

      Hi, S.L., and welcome to my blog! Yes, I agree...while the story would be sad, I'm glad that she decided to shine the light on her experiences dealing with such a tragic time in her file!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  15. Donna K. WeaverApril 2, 2012 at 12:11 PM

    And it probably took her that long to be able to really talk about it.

    New follower.

    www.donnakweaver.com

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 1:02 PM

      Hi, Donna, and welcome to my blog! I read an interview with Ms. Epsztein and she said she never really intended to talk about it at all...much less write it all down. She didn't even tell her own daughter that she was born in a concentration camp until the girl was grown up and that is when she started writing down her story. She wrote in secret and put it away for years until she uncovered it one day and finally decided to show others. The group that eventually published it asked her for years to be able to publish it but it wasn't until she was 92 that she decided if it wasn't published then, it might never be published so she finally gave her approval. The book is only 150 pages long...every word must pack a punch! ;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  16. nutschellApril 2, 2012 at 1:02 PM

    It's never too late to follow your dreams! great A-Z post!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 1:08 PM

      Thanks! I just checked out your post for today...loved it! Became a new follower via email...good luck in the challenge...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  17. UnknownApril 2, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    Hail to old ladies in babushkas! I hope to be one some day.

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 9:20 PM

      Lol...A.M...I never thought about it THAT way but I would have to agree that I would rather BE one than the alternative...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  18. AnonymousApril 2, 2012 at 6:50 PM

    It is wonderful of you to spotlight Mrs. Epsztein. Many Holocaust survivors have not wanted to talk about their experiences, but it is important to have them documented. We must not forget, nor allow some to claim it never happened. It's wonderful that she wrote her book, even at age 92. She is an incredibly brave woman in many ways.
    Richard

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 9:23 PM

      I absolutely agree, Richard. Most abuse victims, whatever the form of abuse, would rather be quiet out of a sense of fear, or shame, or embarrassment when there should be none. It's usually not their fault and usually out of their control at the time. It is the survivors who are brave enough to speak out that I respect and admire...however long it might have taken them to step forward...

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  19. MTeacressApril 2, 2012 at 11:17 PM

    I agree with Donna...what courage it took her to write about it. Nice to meet you in this a-z blogging challenge. Have a lovely week. :)

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 11:54 PM

      Thanks and welcome to my blog! Good luck with the challenge!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  20. Donna B. McNicolApril 2, 2012 at 11:32 PM

    I remember wearing head scarves on cold and windy days. I guess I lead a sheltered life, I thought it made me look sophisticated. LOL!

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 2, 2012 at 11:55 PM

      And I bet it did, Donna...I just bet it did! ;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete
  21. LaurieApril 3, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    Nice post. My mom (who is not Russian) is called Babs for her grandmother name by my nieces and nephews. Her maiden name was Babb and she knew Babushka meant grandmother. I don't think she wears the headscarf though.

    Laurie Fowler
    My A to Z Challenge is on Places I want to visit at http://lauriefowler.blogspot.com

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    1. Think Positive, Be PositiveApril 4, 2012 at 7:20 AM

      Hi, Laurie, and welcome to my blog! What a cute twist on the Babushka idea and how lucky for your mother to have an easy maiden name to tie into to it...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

      Delete

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