When did you become you? Scientists have the answer, and it happened long before your “birth”day. Authors Brooke Stanton and Christiane West have found a remarkable, age-appropriate way to explain the miraculous moment (indeed miraculous whether one views it scientifically or religiously) and the growth stages to your kids -- and to you. Forget the textbooks on biology and sexuality. Take a look at the beautifully illustrated, easy-to-understand story of When You Became You.
Fostering a culture of appreciating life through all its stages -- from in utero to in hospice -- can begin as soon as your little one’s sentient sensibilities begin to shine. From fascination over a picture of baby chicks hatching from an egg, to excitement in hearing that a new baby is growing in mama’s or auntie’s belly, there are many commonplace moments to develop an accurate, life-centered vocabulary that can be understood at the earliest years. When You Became You is a wonderful resource in that discussion.
Celebrating the very topic of life with your children has never been more important as violence, denigration, and tragic deaths, get center stage in the news and filter through their precious ears, often without us even being aware of it. Think about it: we read far more headlines about these topics than we do about peaceful neighborhoods, supportive communities, and joyous births.
These chats are even more essential given the Left’s cultural takeover of the pregnancy topic (which they often refer to as “reproductive rights”), and its oversimplified falsehood of the issue positioned as “women’s rights” and “pro-choice.” Primerrily wholeheartedly agrees it is a woman’s right to exercise her ability to reproduce human life . . . and, to quote Bleeding Heart Conservatives, when that new life begins, we hold “equal consideration of the life of a voiceless unborn baby” as we do with the baby’s mother. In other words, we acknowledge his or her life has a right to not be destroyed. Additionally, we completely agree in an individual’s right to choose. . . and “unlike a pregnant woman, a human life living within a pregnant woman is without a voice and a vote in the matter (quite literally, its own matter) of that choice.” It’s not always an easy discussion, but it’s one you want to be in front of with your kid.
The women who penned When You Became You represent the hundreds of millions of women (and men) who understand that a unique human life living in the uterus of a woman is worthy of his or her own dignity as well. Virtually all mothers consciously or subconsciously agree with this. Otherwise -- to view the topic from a commercial lens, for example -- there would be no booming prenatal industry: from vitamins to books to music. . . not to mention baby showers and gender reveal celebrations! Why is Primerrily bringing this subject up, and what does this have to do with When You Became You?
The month of January 2021 marks the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a landmark legal decision in which, “the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas statute banning abortion, effectively legalizing the procedure across the United States. The court held that a woman’s right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.” The ruling based on implicit interpretation has made this case controversial not only over the issue of abortion, but also over the loosely framed decision. ” Regardless, we think in terms of the long game. While legal battles are important, most of us are not equipped to fight as attorneys. That’s okay; as parents, we still have important roles (dare I say, even more important roles) to play on the field of life. As any good coach would tell you, it’s better to play a strong offense than forced to play defense. If you’re a parent, you have the opportunity to start playing offense on tough topics before you even need to begin to defend your beliefs -- and that includes the belief that a fetus is a child who just happens to still be located in the womb.
If you’re a parent, you have the opportunity to start playing offense on tough topics before you even need to begin to defend your beliefs.
I don’t know about you and your littles, but my kids (ages 5 years, 3.5 years, 11 months, and 22 weeks in utero) are not ready to learn about abortion -- and I’m not ready to tell them about it either. How could they begin to comprehend that their littlest brother, the one they’ve felt move inside of mama’s tummy, the one who has heard their voices, is still able to be “terminated” (aka killed) in some states? Someday, I will have to tell them about this hard reality, but today, I will prepare the way by planting seeds of life in the fertile soil of their hearts and minds. I am eager to tell my kids, with the help of When You Became You, that all good things start small and that they have always been them, no matter how tiny they once were.
I am eager to tell my kids, with the help of When You Became You, that all good things start small and that they have always been them, no matter how tiny they once were.
As its book jacket reads, When You Became You “features glorious illustrations and the biological science of human embryology to introduce the continuum of human life. It takes you on a scientific journey through the stages of a human being’s life.” Upon reading the glowing testimonials of Ben Shapiro, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Wire and host of The Ben Shapiro Show, as well as Eric Metaxas, New York Times bestselling author of Bonhoeffer and Miracles, you’ll know it’s a must-add to your family’s bookshelf. How we talk to our kids and what we read to them, especially during these formative ages, matters. As for the grown-ups, we think this book could make for an extra-special baby shower gift or even a birthday present to show a kid how he or she has grown and will continue to grow!
We think this book could make for an extra-special baby shower gift or even a birthday present to show a kid how he or she has grown and will continue to grow!
Also this month will be one of the largest marches in Washington, DC -- the March for Life. Its mission is to end abortion by uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square. Though Primerrily cannot join in person, we support this peaceful demonstration of hundreds of thousands of Americans by “marching” to the bookshelf and reading this gem of a book to your kids. You can also link hands online if feeling discouraged over the vitriol, such as the pro-abortion accusation this stance is a “war on women’s rights.” We encourage you to take control of your choice to support life in the womb by doing something small yet significant: celebrate when your kid became your kid by reading When You Became You with your babies, once in your tummy and now sitting right beside you.
Celebrate when your kid became your kid by reading When You Became You with your babies, once in your tummy and now sitting right beside you.
Reviews
This beautiful book is a tremendous teaching tool for children about where they come from and what makes them unique and beautiful the same thing that made them unique and beautiful from the very moment of fertilization. --BEN SHAPIRO, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Wire and host of The Ben Shapiro Show
Knowing when our lives begin is vitally important, so much so that it should be among the first things we teach our kids. Therefore, When You Became You should be among the very first titles every family includes in their children's book library. --ERIC METAXAS, New York Times bestselling author, Bonhoeffer and Miracles
About the Authors
Brooke Stanton and Christiane West are passionate about science and humankind. They founded Contend Projects to make the scientifically accurate facts about human development simple and accessible for everyone. Brooke is the mother of four budding young scientists. Together with Christiane, also the mother of four junior truth seekers, they believe it is never too early to introduce young children to important scientific realities, especially when it comes to our own species.