Portia's Healing Journey: A Journey to Healing and Hope
on Goodreads (2)
What’s inside...
Welcome to 'Portia's Healing Journey,' an inspiring narrative penned by Portia Mills Henderson, an advocate for children's mental health and Founder of the Healing the Roots Foundation. A percentage of proceeds from each purchase of 'Portia's Healing Journey' supports our nonprofit's mission to empower minority children in overcoming trauma, abuse, and domestic violence. This story, deeply rooted in the author's life, introduces us to Portia, a young girl navigating the complexities of a loving yet imperfect family. Her experiences shed light on the profound importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills, such as managing emotions, responsible decision-making, seeking help, relationship skills, and the transformative power of kindness. Through her journey, the Healing the Roots Foundation arises as a sanctuary of compassion for children in need, offering hope to families facing adversity. 'Delve into 'Portia's Healing Journey,' and you'll discover that hardships can be catalysts for rewriting our stories. This book fosters bonding, learning, and ignites possibility, creating treasured moments. Parents and caregivers, embark on a shared journey with your children.
Discussion points
How do you think Portia felt during her journey and why?
What does healing mean to you, and how can you apply it in your own life?
Can you identify a moment in the book where Portia showed courage? What did that look like?
Why is hope important, and how did it help Portia on her journey?
What are some ways you can help a friend who is going through a tough time, like Portia did?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate their own experiences to Portia's journey, fostering empathy and deeper understanding.
Discuss the concept of healing and hope, and explore how these themes apply both in the book and in real life.
Use the illustrations in the book to discuss emotions, asking your child to interpret Portia's feelings in different scenarios.
After reading, create a simple 'Hope and Healing' chart together where your child can list down times they felt hope and healing.
Praise your child’s insights during the discussion, reinforcing their ability to analyze and empathize.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience in overcoming challenges
Explanation: Portia faces numerous obstacles on her healing journey, learning to navigate them with courage and perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by tackling their own challenges, such as learning a new skill or dealing with change, with determination and optimism.
Example Lesson: Importance of emotional expression
Explanation: Throughout her journey, Portia learns the importance of expressing her emotions rather than keeping them bottled up.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to openly share their feelings with trusted individuals, promoting emotional health and strengthening relationships.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: As Portia interacts with others who have their own stories of hardship, she learns to empathize and support them.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to be more attentive to the feelings and situations of others around them, fostering a more compassionate community.
Example Lesson: Hope and positivity
Explanation: Despite the challenges, Portia remains hopeful and finds moments of joy and positivity on her journey.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to look for the positive aspects in every situation, helping them to remain hopeful and upbeat regardless of the circumstances.
Example Lesson: The power of support networks
Explanation: Portia's journey highlights how the support from friends and family is crucial in overcoming personal struggles.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the significance of seeking help and being supportive to others in need, enhancing their social skills and emotional intelligence.