Author Lauren Scott: Chapter 9: Numbers Lie in THIS IS HOW WE GROW (2023) – a book about Perspective Taking

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Hello Readers,

Recently we introduced  the book,THIS IS HOW WE GROW, and I will be posting about it on and off for the four weeks. 

Today’s post is to share about Lauren Scott’s chapter, Numbers Lie

But first – let me share that Lauren has a collection of poems – hot off the press – in her book called Ever so Gently. My paperback copy is on the way and I look forward to reading it in August.

Ever so Gently is on Amazon here

Now back to today’s post.  

 

Author Audio:

From Lauren:

Numbers Lie (fiction) –

She still cringes when she peruses old albums with photos of her as a young chubby girl. The memory of her ten-year-old self in the hospital after having her tonsils removed causes her stomach to somersault. Following the tonsillectomy, she rested in the recovery room with other children. A blonde-haired boy about her same age wore a wicked grin just before the words slid from his tongue, “Hey, fatso!” Those three syllables caused her to crumble into the white sterile bed sheets. Maybe they sparked her insecurities. Or perhaps the childhood chubbiness that dogged her footsteps into adulthood goaded the insecurities to surface. 

Lauren’s commentary:

Keri’s narrative is fiction, but I can insert it into my life story for an accurate fit. When hurtful words are tossed at us, they remain audible. We cannot throw them back because their effect is branded in our psyche. Traumatic moments and events stick with us regardless of how vigorously we try to peel them away from our memory. I endured similar moments on the school playground as a chubby little girl. Throughout the years, I could gain ten to twenty pounds, then lose it, stare at my reflection, and still view myself as chubby. I dislike the word fat, so I never use it. No one deserves to be called fat.  

Lauren Scott’s chapter in This is How we Grow is an engaging fiction followed by author commentary about the topic of weight, labels, and adjusting a critical spirit to become more accepting. Her story reminded us that empathy consists of both affective and cognitive components and Lauren reached a cultural artery as her wisdom reminded us that people are more than externals as we have “heart, soul, and beauty, inside and out.” 

Bio: 

Lauren Scott is an author, poet, and blogger who specializes in short stories, both fiction and non-fiction, about life reflections and finding joy in the simple things. Her new collection of poems, Ever So Gently, was released in July 2023 and her first children’s book will be released later in 2023.

She has published two poetry collections, New Day, New Dreams (2013) and Finding a Balance (2015), a memoir, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose (2021), was  a contributing author in Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships, and was nominated “Author of the Month” May 2023 at Spillwords Press. 

Lauren and her husband, Matthew, have two grown children and a Labrador named Copper. Her writing inspiration comes from family and the great outdoors while enjoying small-town living in Northern California. Lauren can be found online at baydreamerwrites.com.

Other social media links:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lauren-Scott/author/B08NCRH4MK?

https://www.facebook.com/BaydreamerWrites/

https://www.instagram.com/baydreamerwrites/

This is How We Grow has 13 authors providing poems and personal stories:

  • Dragonfly by Ana Linden
  • Untangle & Learn by Mahesh Nair
  • Made My Day by Sherri Matthews
  • Beneath by Trent McDonald
  • Ground Zero by Jeffrey D. Simmons
  • Combatting Caregiver Burnout by Mike F. Martelli
  • There’s No Return to Sender by Robbie Cheadle
  • Numbers Lie by Lauren Scott
  • Grateful & Graceful Grandparenting by Miriam Hurdle
  • Seeing Through by Yvette Prior
  • Winding Road of Writing by Mabel Kwong
  • Blogging & Rekindling by Marsha Ingrao
  • Right and Wrong by Cade Prior

     Each author in this book hopes that you enjoy the personal narratives

offering unique outlooks and ideas about assumptions and cultural

differences and similarities. We hope these stories transmit important

information and values from one individual to the next because this is how we grow.

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79 thoughts on “Author Lauren Scott: Chapter 9: Numbers Lie in THIS IS HOW WE GROW (2023) – a book about Perspective Taking”

      1. Thank you! It’s my last week of vacation and it is just wonderful so far 🙂 I hope your week got off to a wonderful start.

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  3. Kids are cruel, but even as an adult it’s too easy to chuck labels about. I’m on the skinny side and usually get in first with a quip, but it still hurts when someone says ‘you should eat more!’ Believe me, I’d explode!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Jo,
      Thank you for sharing your experience. Kids can be mean when it comes to anything they deem different. I’m sorry you’ve been on the receiving end too, but I’m glad you understand my perspective.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Hi Jo – thanks for sharing your comment – it reminded me that the spectrum for body shaming can be very wide! One of my former yoga teachers had baggage with being called “skinny” and someone told her that her knees were knobby! I think was barely 90 pounds and she Sid she wished she had more curves and well – sometimes with our body we “just get what we get” and we do the best with what we have.

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  4. Hi Yvette,
    The interview looks wonderful, and I didn’t expect the plug for my book, so that was a nice surprise. Thanks again for including me in this special book. I’m honored and thrilled to be a part of it with you and the other talented writers. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    3. Hi Lauren – regarding “didn’t expect the plug for my book, so that was a nice surprise” – well I had to mention the book because as I made your post – my copy was just ordered
      and as a fan of your “uplifting tone and content” I am looking forward to reading your book in august and into Labor Day weekend 🙂
      and thanks again for being col about both books having a close release date – your “flexible” side is appreciated

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for buying a copy, Yvette. And most of the poems are uplifting, but some are honest about things in life that aren’t so cheery. I wanted this collection to evoke a variety of emotions. I can’t wait to hear you thoughts and I hope you enjoy from start to finish. And without flexibility, we would be staring unhappiness in the mirror most of the time because things don’t always happen according to our plans. We have to be willing to go with the flow. It’s actually been fun launching both books. 🙂

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  5. Pingback: Yvette Prior, PhD interviews Author Lauren Scott: Chapter 9: Numbers Lie in THIS IS HOW WE GROW (2023) – a book about Perspective Taking – Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott

    2. Robbie – thanks for the comment and I really like how Lauren opened her story and used fiction to lead us into a personal story and then also a very important sociocultural topic.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Thanks so much Dan, Lauren had a backup idea if this one did not fit the book – but it turned out to be a gem of a story and fit perfectly well (thanks again Lauren)

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Lauren – I am not sure this reply was in Dan’s “thread” and is separate – either way – Dan is going to read and review our book and I am so excited

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Lauren – Dan said he thought the book was “special” and even changed his post for it so that he could share it with more folks – very cool

          Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Jacqui – Mabel’s post is all set for August 20th – and so I look forward to your visit for that one – and any others that you can make. And by the way – you came to mind when I changed the pacing for my book release posts- because I always found it interesting how you go “slower” with your A to Z posts and other type of promos. And so I am trying a new approach with staggering my posts. I am still experimenting to see what works for this book and all that – but wanted to let you know that you gave me some ideas. And I appreciate Lauren going second in my post promos because she has such a passion for writing and for wellness. –

      Liked by 2 people

  11. I understand the 10 year old Keri, Yvette. I made a mistake by letting my dauhter play Barbie when she was little. Barbie was so poular then. She told me as an adult that it affected her terribly to compare herself with Barbie.
    Great interview, Yvette and Lauren. I read Lauren’s chapter. Thank you for all the hard work, Yvette.

    Liked by 2 people

        2. I’m sure it will be, Lauren! I know one blogger packed up and moved closer to the daughter as soon as the grandkid was born. We waited for six years. We all have our own stories. 😊

          Liked by 2 people

        3. wanted to him in about how Miriam’s chapter moves fast – because it really does – and not in a bad way – just in a descriptive and “pulls you in” way that lets us share with you!

          Liked by 1 person

    2. Hi Miriam – thank you very much for chiming in and I am glad that you mentioned the Barbie movie – because I am also curious as to how the movie came out.

      I read mixed reviews and the sad part is that the subtle violence (smashing dolls?) and I heard it was not for childcare but yet you know children will be watching it – Also, with the “subtle layered agendas” in the movie make me hesitant to spend precious hours of my life watching it.

      I also have issues with the barbie doll “shape” – even when they introduced the culture line of Barbie dolls – the complete stereotype of a “long thin, body with protruding boobies and an oval face” is terrible.

      Anyhow, thanks for sharing what your daughter shared about Barbie – and Lauren, thanks again for sharing such a personal story that really does touch upon a very important topic

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ugh. I think I really dislike the barbie stereotyped image – even if they try and sugar coat I with surface-like future details

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      2. Personally, I’m not a Barbie fan. I know I won’t watch the Barbie movie. I don’t like company sponsored movies such as Cast Away, but that movie was pretty good. It could have been any fictional movie but the sponsorship made it financially sound.

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      3. I have to add to this Barbie conversation…I heard from someone that decades ago baby dolls were the popular toys for girls, but the dolls implicated that girls or women are good for one thing, raising children. Then along came Barbie who was independent, had a car, and many careers if we look back in time. So, for this reason, Barbie was a good example, showing that women could be so much more than a wife and mom, not saying these aren’t good either because I love being a wife and mom. But I think you understand the point. Now, as to her body, well, that’s another story! 🙂
        And one we’ve already touched upon.

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        1. Lauren – thanks for chiming in!
          And another problem I had with body’s Barbie shape was how non-woman it was. For example, when I used t teach art (many moons ago) the starting stick figures we drew (to then add tubes and then fill in the base) usually had women with wider hips and men with wider shoulders. Basic proportions to start with and of course – every human is different but MOST WOMEN have hips that are made for giving birth. And so the very shape of Barbie from the start is horrible and I still do not care how they dress her up with culture clothes – the image is the same – overly thin, slender, long hair, oval face, and certain characteristics.

          I also love being a wife and momma and feel grateful to grow up in a culture that gave us OPTIONS as to how we approached child rearing.
          And not sure if you have ever heard of the Proverbs 31 Woman – well in the Christian community there are groups that sometimes form around this chapter and they tend to miss out that this noble woman or great character (depicted in the chapter) was also a BUSINESS WOMAN – “She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.” and her husband was know at the gate (city community center) because of her reputation – and so my point is that I view marriage as a partnership and the roles we take can and should vary according to each couple – even though some things – like my breasts having milk and my husband’s not – did mean that I wanted to be home to nurse – but technology (pumping machines) even gave options for that!

          I do not want to start talking about transgender here – and I have respect for all people – but I did read a review that said the Barbie movie was subtly saying that “men are better at being women than women are” – and I have NOT seen the movie yet and so I will be sure to come back and comment when I do watch it

          Liked by 1 person

        2. There is so much to ponder and chat about. I agree about Barbie’s body. And I’m curious about the movie, but haven’t seen it yet. I also agree about marriage and partnership and the roles should be up to the couple. I guess I am grateful that ‘she’ didn’t affect me in an adverse way when I was young. It was the ugly words in my story that provoked the issue. Thank goodness I’m older, wiser, and more comfortable in my skin. And those days have passed. 🙂

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  12. A sad but realistic opening from Lauren. Lauren, did anyone ever tell your husband he looks like Andy Reid, the Kansas City Chiefs football team’s coach? 🙂 Yvette, I can’t wait to see a copy of the book because I’ve never had my photo on the cover of a book before! Thanks for giving me the opportunity.

    janet

    Liked by 2 people

    2. Janet! her husband totally looks like that coach (or Reid’s younger brother) and by the way – we really like that coach even if not huge KC

      Liked by 2 people

    3. Also Janet, I am going to do a separate post about the cover – and I will email you some questions – but I am so glad we did not go with that “yellowed” version of the photo that went around early on – blah!

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    1. Hello Norah! You made my day to mention that you have your copy in Kindle because I absolutely LOVE making sure books are available for Kindle readers – I still need to add my Conversate book to the e-reader option – and I have come to really appreciate al those faithful Kindle readers out there
      and looking forward to hearing your take on the book
      🙂
      XX

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Sooo excited about Lauren’s new book! Her cover is so beautiful.
    love the interview and kudos to you Lauren for speaking about your painful past openly. I know well the how difficult weight is and being on both ends with myself and clients having lost 2,000 pounds (up down.. yo yo) and my clients and daughter’s struggle.
    Ever honest truth helps others as I know yours will💞💞💞💞

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks for your support for my new book, Cindy, and I’ll let my son know you liked the cover. 🙂 I’m glad you understand the reason for me sharing my story in This is How We Grow, even though I was hesitant in the beginning. It’s so relative in today’s world. Thanks for your kind words and for taking the time to read Yvette’s interview. She’s been so great to work with on her special book. So, I hope you enjoy the collection. ❤️🙏🏻❤️

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Regarding the cover for Lauren’s book, for “Ever so Gently, and Cindy’s note about it – I also like the cool tones and how it feels like the ocean or sky and so Lauren, tell your son that I like it too

        also, Lauren – I know you had a backup story lined up but I am so glad that we went with your first submission because not only does it balance out our book with content topics – but the more I move into the summer and appreciate the final version of the book, the more I realize that “body image” is a timeless topic and one that needs ongoing discussion.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Hi Yvette, thanks for your kind words about the cover. If you have time, check out my blog post for my book for more info and the book trailer that Robbie created. 🙂 And I agree about “body Image’ being a timeless topic. It was liberating to tell my story, and I’m glad it worked out for the book.

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    3. Cindy, I am sure with your decades of experience you really understand so much of the way humans wrestle with various things.

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