How Many Marbles Do You Have?

Book excerpt: This is the book weve been waiting fora story for children of parents with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In fact, I plan to buy a copy for all my loved ones, so theyll better understand what my life is like. It all depends on how many marbles are in my jar each daythe perfect metaphor for explaining the unpredictability and the ups and downs of Fibromyalgia and CFS. At the end of the book, Malott writes, a heart full of love is better than a jar full of marbles any day. Not only is this book informative and insightful, its a heart full of love in itself. Toni Bernhard, author of How to Be Sick A mom uses a brilliant jar-and-marble analogy to teach her son about her limitations related to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia. The book uses marbles, a toy all children are familiar with, as a measure of the mothers limited energy. Using a jar and some marbles, the author conveys difficult concepts in terms that children can understand. These concepts include taking preemptive rests to have more energy later, finding alternate ways to perform tasks that use less energy, and postexertional malaise. The concepts in the book are relevant to someone with one or both illnesses, and it can be applied to other physically limiting conditions as well. The book reminds the reader that although illness may limit a mothers activities, it never diminishes a mothers love for her children. The book is fun and yet realistic and will capture your childs heart.