Pearls of wisdom
Children, parents provide inspiration for Jackson’s book of quotes
Gordon Jackson has a thing for quotes. Quotes about media, quotes about travel, quotes about career advice and politics, his collection includes several thousand 3-by-5 study cards and more than 100 books full of famous and not so famous quotes.
What makes a good quote?
“If I hear something that catches my interest and fuels my curiosity, then I write it down,” Jackson said. “But I only write books about something I really care about.”
Jackson latest book “You’ve Made Your Bed, Now Go Bounce on It” was published earlier this week and contains 800 quotes about children, parents and parenthood.
Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap on a rope. – Bill Cosby
Jackson is a journalism professor at Whitworth University. Originally from South Africa, where he worked as a journalist in the 1970s, he’s been at Whitworth since 1983.
The idea for a collection of child- and parenting-related quotes came from Jackson’s favorite volunteer job: He and his wife, Sue Jackson, spend Monday evenings at Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, playing with the children there. The Jacksons have done so for the past seven years.
“It’s a delightful and meaningful connection for us,” Jackson said.
Part of the royalties from Jackson’s book will go to support Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery which provides emergency care for children ages newborn to 6-years-old, whose parents and caregivers are in life situations where they can’t provide adequate care for their children.
Jackson said his duties at the nursery span everything from holding and comforting a 1-month-old baby to staging pretend tea parties and trying to keep up with rambunctious toddlers.
“It’s the one part of my week where no one cares if I have a PhD,” Jackson said. “All the child wants to know is: Will you play with me and will you be nice?”
It’s a happy talent to know how to play. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Amy Knapton, Vanessa Behan’s executive director, is grateful for the financial support the nursery will gain from a book that’s both funny and touching.
“The book is a celebration of kids generally,” Knapton said. “I know it will delight many parents, grandparents, teachers and other who work with children, both in our community and beyond.”
Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted. – Garrison Keillor
This is the first book Jackson has self-published.
“Getting the book out was easy and a positive experience,” Jackson said. “Marketing it is a little bit harder because I don’t have a marketing network at all.”
The book is available at Auntie’s Bookstore and Atticus Coffee and Gifts, as well as at Whitworth’s campus bookstore and on Amazon.com.