Tongues often speak without the brain’s permission, often leaving us wishing for a conversational eraser to correct our mistake. Through real-life examples, discussion points, and a touch of humor, Say What?! proposes relationship-preserving alternatives to well meaning but inappropriate “Blurts that Hurt” across a wide spectrum of today’s most challenging conversational situations.
We all understand the importance and necessity for our conversations and word choices to be “Politically Correct.” What is less practiced but equally important is a commitment for being “Relationship Correct” as well. Say What?! will do for every day conversations what How to Win Friends and Influence People has done for the business community.
someone asking, “Who’s fault is it you can’t have kids?” to a couple struggling with infertility, or adoptive parents being asked, “Who’s the real mother?” Imagine sharing with family and friends the diagnosis of cancer, only to have one of the first things to be said, “You are one of the lucky ones. There are a lot of people much worse off than you,” or “It must be difficult knowing your mother died of cancer.”
88 Pieces Publishing, LLC and Say What?! Books introduces the first book in the "Say What?!” Series; Say What?! Blurts that Hurt. With a truly fresh and unique approach, the book creates a connection with the reader as it journeys through life’s milestone conversations, offering practical and relationship preserving advice with a touch of humor.
We have all spoken without our brain’s permission, leaving us immediately wishing for a conversational eraser to correct our mistake. Through thoughtful and easy to read conversational examples, reflection points, illustrations, and model conversations, the book explores ways to prepare for and gracefully deal with such topics as Pregnancy, Adoption, Cancer, Miscarriages, Working Mothers, Infertility, Stay-at-home Dads, Funerals, Marrying Young, Death of a Child, and several other life changing situations.
Imagine someone asking, “Who’s fault is it you can’t have kids?” to a couple struggling with infertility, or adoptive parents being asked, “Who’s the real mother?”
Imagine sharing with a friend a tearful story of precious items (a Bass pick and a single dollar bill) found in the pants pocket of a recently deceased child, only to have them reply, “Well, at least he didn’t die penniless”.
Imagine sharing a diagnosis of cancer, only to have one someone say, “You are one of the lucky ones. There are a lot of people much worse off than you.”, or “It must be difficult knowing your mother died of cancer.”
Imagine someone asking a working mother, “What does it feel like having someone else raising your kids?” or having someone remark, “I decided to stay home because my children are worth the sacrifice.”
Imagine someone trying to comfort you after a miscarriage by saying “You are young. You can have another child.”
Imagine overhearing someone at your wedding say “I give it six months” or as a pregnant woman being asked “You are so big. Are you sure you’re not having twins?”
The irony is that we do not have to imagine these types of scenarios because they are said thousands of times every hour of every day. When at a loss for words, we often use a canned phrase or cliché to “save the moment.” Understanding how to appropriately approach and respond to sensitive conversational topics elevates the “think before you speak” nomenclature to a more considerate state and is the springboard for Say What?!
Say What?! adopts this unique “Relationship Correct” approach for transitioning a person’s conversational approach from potentially relationship damaging to relationship preserving. By recognizing and addressing how each “what,” “when,” “how,” and “why,” element weighs on both sides of the conversation, Say What?! helps the reader gain a newfound ability to integrate these suggestions into their conversations with grace and confidence.
“Hey, I’ve said that” is a common expression when reading Say What?! Blurts that Hurt, followed by some reflection and perhaps a little chuckle. Or the reader might be reminded about a time they were faced with an unwelcome or inappropriate comment or question and wanted to shout “Say What?!”. Thoughtfully the book provides practical advice and insight for successfully transitioning either scenario into having relationship preserving conversations with confidence and grace.
About the authors:
Both authors LaNelia and John Ramette have extensive professional careers where they have piloted business initiatives where positive communication delivery and techniques were critical success components of their projects. After a decade in the making, it was not until they lost their Son Michael to suicide in 2010 that they were they able to summon the courage and inspiration to finish their book. To honor Michael’s memory a portion of the books profits are being donated to GriefWorks, http://www.grief-works.org/, a non-profit organization that supports families and children recovering from the loss of a loved one.
