Founder of Strength Through Stories
Meet Sarah
Hello, my name is Sarah—and I have devoted my life to loving children.
From reading to and raising six incredible children (four now in college or careers, two teens still at home), to teaching Elementary School and Montessori Preschool, to creating a diverse kid-lit history curriculum during Covid homeschool, to working with youth in foster care and homeless shelters—children and stories have always been at the heart of my life.
One Story at a Time
Why Stories Matter
I am passionate about the immeasurable power of one simple thing to connect and heal, to center and soothe, to build understanding and empathy:
Reading aloud a thoughtfully written story on a loving lap.
I have seen the powerful effect this has on a child’s sense of self-worth—when they are snuggled up, feeling safe, feeling heard, and connecting not only with the characters in the story, but with the person reading to them.
I’ve also experienced the impact firsthand in my own home. Even on the hardest days, our daily read-aloud time strengthened my mental health and my relationship with my children. (Yes—I still read to my kids… now teens.)
This one simple, shared reading habit feels like an underestimated silver bullet for good—one that is quietly being replaced by screens. I hope to help change that.
A Simple Daily Habit with Lasting Impact
Over the years, I’ve come to believe that this small, daily practice holds incredible power.
This shared story time creates a space where children feel:
- Safe
- Seen
- Valued
- Calm
- Connected
And where parents can slow down, listen, laugh, share feelings, and truly be with their child.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence.
Relationship Ripples
From my personal experience raising six children—and from teaching and reading to kids of all ages in schools, foster care, and homeless shelters—I’ve seen how this sacred daily read-aloud time ripples outward to bless every part of family life.
A shared storybook can become the doorway for parent and child:
- To connect
- To love
- To listen
- To slow down
- To laugh together
- To talk about hard things
- And sometimes, to heal
What If?
I began asking myself some big questions:
What if every child was read to—every day—by someone who loves them?
What if every child sat on a loving lap, unplugged from screens and plugged into a real person, feeling seen, valued, and safe as they giggled and wondered together?
What if this shared story time created a daily rhythm of peace, love, and connection between parent and child?
Going Deeper
These questions took on even more weight as I learned about the devastating emotional and physical effects of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) on children.
I began to wonder: Could this one simple daily read-aloud routine be a powerful counter-ACE?
A way to calm a cortisol-bathed brain shaped by chronic stress or trauma? A way to help little nervous systems—stuck in fight, flight, or freeze—finally relax? Could it even play a role in breaking cycles of abuse?
Emerging research suggests that the answer may be yes.
My Dream
My dream is simple, and big:
Every child. Every day. Everywhere.
Read to by someone who loves them.
Will you join me?
Join the Bedtime Joy Course Waitlist
Our Values at Strength Through Stories
Growth
I love how stories can spark conversations to empower, inspire, problem solve and understand. I seek to learn, grow and inspire those around me with compassion and a growth mindset. There is so much we can learn from our children and reading stories together is one of my favorite ways to do that!
Empathy
I have carefully chosen thoughtfully written children’s books that have added meaning, understanding, and compassion to our family; stories that have helped us gain an appreciation for the beautiful diversity of people on this planet we all share. I hope they will enrich your family too!
Hope
I rely on hope and love as my motivating factor. I look towards a future where every child feels valued and loved; where every child can be read to every day, by someone who loves them for the long term emotional, relational, and educational benefit this can provide their whole life. I Hope that by reading together as a family, through the words on the pages and the daily reading routine, you too will find that you are not alone. You too will find strength…One story at a time.
Joy
Joy is the reason I created this website! The joy of connecting as a family through stories. The joy and strength of finding words for feelings and experiences. The joy of seeing and hearing the priceless, creative, imaginative ways our children see the world. The joy of wondering or laughing together about a picture in a story. I hope that you too will experience the fun, spontaneity, connection, healing and strength.through.stories that can come when sharing a story with a child you love.
