Back in October, I was encouraged by a work friend to accompany her and her husband to see Chip Coffey in St. Louis. It was truly awesome, and I blogged about that experience in my 10 important reasons to go see Chip Coffey at a “Coffey Talk” near you. I immediately ordered his book, and just as I expected, it was very enjoyable. But it was also very informative. I know, I know. How boring, right? Keep reading…
When I bought the book, I apparently didn't read the description on the back. I assumed that like most books by psychics, it would be about his psychic experiences growing up, as the title suggests. What I didn't quite realize, is that even though he shares his story, it is really meant to be a guide or handbook for those people who may work with or have children with psychic abilities. As the star and psychic from A&E's hit show Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal, there is perhaps no one better fit to write this book for us.
As an educator, I've always tried to be sensitive and aware of the many different kinds of children I work with. They come from different cultures, backgrounds, family structures, socioeconomic status, etc. But they also come to me with different gifts and exceptionalities. As someone who has grown up with a disability and some exceptionalness myself, I'd like to think my students know that they can trust me to be there for support. But with so many students, and with so many crazy days where I don't get to stop and breathe or have more than a few moments to myself until the buses leave the parking lot (and sometimes not even then), I wonder how many students I've had with exceptional psychic abilities. How many of those students may have been struggling? Am I open to seeing the signs? Have these students viewed me as someone who is accepting and sensitive to those abilities or gifts?
Like clockwork, just a few days ago a student mentioned to me that she was going to have to spend some time alone in her house after school, and that she wasn't a fan of having to do this. When I asked her why, she said her house was haunted. She said she'd seen apparitions and scary things, “like Jack the Ripper stuff”, according to her. As I walked with her out of the classroom while she talked, I consciously made an attempt to listen to clues and be supportive. In fact, as it seemed that she was working hard to convince me that her story was true, the last thing I said to her as she went off to her next class was “I believe you.” I'm not sure I would have been on my toes or “with it” enough if it hadn't been for just finishing this book.
Do you have children? Do you work with them? This will be worth checking out.
From the back of the book and Amazon.com.
NO one knows more about psychic kids than Chip Coffey, and no expert on psychic kids is better known throughout the world. These kids are widely misunderstood, misjudged, and misdiagnosed. InGrowing Up Psychic, Chip Coffey offers indispensable information for anyone who interacts with these extraordinary youngsters—parents, educators, medical professionals, mental health clinicians, members of the clergy, paranormal investigators—and adults who faced the challenges of growing up psychic.
In Growing Up Psychic, drawing on his firsthand experience and the true stories of kids he has worked with and helped, Chip Coffey shows you how to:
• Determine if a child is really psychic—as opposed to simply imaginative or
seeking attention
• Identify the different kinds of psychic abilities kids (and adults) might have
• Gain control over when and how psychic information is received
• Safely connect with others in the psychic community
• Deal with skeptics and disbelievers
Me with Chip Coffey
For more information on Chip, visit www.chipcoffey.com.
You might also like:
10 important reasons to go see Chip Coffey at a “Coffey Talk” near you (Big Séance)
Béla Bartók, Wet Goblins, and the Post Halloween Blues (Big Séance)
Vintage: A Ghost Story (for the gay teen in your life) (Big Séance)
Angel Moments: Music as Meditation… Or is it? (Big Séance)
Children who have spirit friends (Big Séance)
House of Darkness House of Light, Volume Two, by Andrea Perron, and more on The Conjuring (Big Séance)