We hope you’ve been able to visit childhoodhomestories.com recently to check out our newest stories. This week we are thrilled to post two essays by Toddy Sewell and John Sewell, a sister and brother who grew up in the same house and shared their unique takes on the experience. You’ll also enjoy Miles Hawthorne’s story that includes an example of a toddler’s obliviousness to wrongdoing, and a triumph over floods.

Last month Susan’s book group chose to read The Yellow House, a memoir by Sarah K. Broom. Broom, born in New Orleans in 1979, was the youngest in a family of 12 children. Her heartfelt and fascinating account of the lifelong influence of her childhood home (the Yellow House was located in East New Orleans) reveals the mixed and intense feelings we can develop for our original spaces. She shows how her family loved and appreciated this frame “shotgun house" in the beginning, but later how they became so ashamed of it that no one outside of the family was ever invited inside again. It’s an epic “childhood home story,” an indictment of institutionalized racism in New Orleans, and a National Book Award winner.

Maybe you’re thinking about your own childhood home and sense a story percolating. Remember, we’d love to see it. Send it to us at childhoodhomestories@gmail.com. If you feel hesitant about your writing skills, we will help with gentle editing! If talking is more your style, we also would be happy to interview you and create an edited transcription. Just email us and we’ll set up a convenient time.

With appreciation,

Laurie and Susan