Peggy Williams and her husband, Wayne Williams, are natives of Alabama. Peggy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling. Wayne obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business, a Master of Arts degree in Divinity and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling. Both are Licensed Professional Counselors.
Their life’s work has involved helping people in various settings including the church, counseling centers, treatment centers, residential programs, school settings, correctional facilities, military and mental health centers. They have also worked together in several of these settings primarily with children and families.
As both are nearing retirement, their thoughts have turned to other ways of helping people, those that are hurting or those that are just looking for ways to enrich their lives. So the thought of writing Friends in the Meadow Book Series materialized and grew.
Peggy authored Friends in the Meadow – Birds, and Wayne has helped with editing, proofing, technical support, offering constructive critiques and ideas. Both love children, having raised three, have five grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Peggy had the goal early in her career to use the concepts learned in her studies to create books that teach children needed social skills in easy to read stories. FRIENDS IN THE MEADOW - BIRDS, is her first attempt at this goal. Her primary interest has been helping children build self-esteem and helping parents learn to positively parent their children. She has found that bird watching when both children and parents participate together provides opportunities for sharing and bonding. It often has a two fold benefit of building the child's self-esteem and helps to form a closer parent-child relationship.
There are certainly many types of children's books and stories to tell that can accomplish this goal. Peggy has chosen nature, specifically, the hobby of bird watching for several reasons, as the first book in this series.
First, the hobby is available to anyone, even a child that has a limited area to play outside can see birds and begin learning life lessons the birds present.
Secondly, the hobby costs from nothing to as much as you want to spend, so it is affordable.
Thirdly, those that are hurting emotionally need a positive focus that helps them escape the hurt. Focusing on birds and nature around them can give this escape to all ages.
Fourthly, the hobby does not require any special skill to begin, just curiosity and the desire to be involved in a nature setting.
Lastly, but not least, the hobby can develop into a lifestyle and for some even a vocation. Birding is a positive activity that parents can join their children in and have great family outings and experiences together. These are just some of the reasons as birding offers much more.
When you get the birding “bug”, your life will be enriched. Once you catch the “bug”, you will want to pass it on.
HAPPY BIRDING!!
