When I Was Just a Kid...Mary DeMuth

Did you guess Mary DeMuth yesterday? If you scroll down to her adult photo, you see the same delightful smile.

When Mary DeMuth was in second grade, her teacher was the first to recognize she had writerly gifts. Mary still remembers how her teacher purposely sought out her mom to tell her about Mary's gifts.

Today, Mary is the author of both fiction books and nonfiction books, writes several blogs, and is actively involved in the ministry. Mary, her husband and their family have returned from a ministry in France and she hasn't caught her breath since hitting her native soil. And because of her own childhood,and her experience in France, Mary has sought to come alongside other parents. That's also why she has written some of the parenting books that she has, including a recent release, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture. (She also wrote Building the Christian Family You Never Had and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God.See the links at the end.)

Mary says, "I always struggle when I write a parenting book because I feel so darned small and weak. I don’t parent perfectly. But, we did live through two and half years in France, the hotbed of hyper-postmodernity. We had to learn how to parent our kids in that culture. It occurred to me that the things we learned would be helpful to American parents too."

Let's find out about Mary as a child and see just how it influences her writing(and life) today:

Childhood Ambition: To be a doctor.

Fondest Memory: When I was in second grade, I went to daycare after school. One day my mom and stepfather picked me up from daycare on their horses. I still remember my jealous daycare-mates, noses pressed against chain link, longing to be me. That’s the closest I’ve gotten to being a celebrity!



Proudest Moment:In the 8th grade, I started singing solos. Every year they nominated a girl and a boy to be outstanding soloist of the year. Everyone knew Ellen (not her real name) would win. But Ellen had been mean and ruthless the whole year, though she had a good voice. She wouldn’t compete in contest, though I did. I knew Ellen would win the award too. During the award ceremony, they announced me as the winner. I couldn’t believe it!



Biggest Challenge as a Child or Teen: Getting over the pain from my past. I was haunted by many, many things. Had I not met Jesus when I was fifteen, there is no doubt my life today would look quite a bit different.


My First Job: Counter Girl at Godfather’s Pizza. I still remember how I answered the phone, “Welcome to Godfather’s pizza, may I take your order?”



Childhood Indulgences: Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Lik-a-Maids, and frozen yogurt from the store across the street from my home.



Favorite Outfit as a Child: A polyester (peach!) pantsuit my friend Pam’s mom MADE for me.

Favorite Childhood Play Time Activity: Little House on the Prairie with my friend Amber.



Favorite Childhood Movie: Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory


Childhood Heroes: The kids on the Brady Bunch. Oh, how I wanted their lives.





Mary's helpful and fun website here

Meet Mary and read her crazy blog here.

Nonfiction


Get it autographed! You can purchase Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture directly from Mary and have it autographed.

Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture




Building the Christian Family You Never Had













Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God

Fiction
Wishing on Dandelions

Watching Tree Limbs

Read more about Mary at these blogs this week:

A Latte and Some Words
Chat ‘n’ Chew Cafe
~christa~
Experiencing the Journey
Fabric, Paper, Thread
Fictional Journey
Haruah - Breath of Heaven
I Wish You Enough
Leanna Ellis
lorrieorr.com
Margaret Daley
Partners in Prayer for our Prodigals
Raindancer’s Map of Memories
Robyn’s Ramblings
See Ya On the Net
Sometimes I Feel Like a Piece of Bologna
Sormag Online Tours
Spaghettipie
The Authentic You
The Spiritual Mom
Why Didn’t You Warn Me?
Write from my Heart