Kristian James - Building Our Main Street

https://worldofkristianjames.com/
What can parents say to console their young children when a close relative or friend dies?

This is a question that haunted Kristian James, a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who heard about other members of the military that died in service to their country and left small children behind.

In an attempt to allay the fears of youngsters who have recently lost a beloved grandparent, parent, or friend, he decided to write the book, Building Our Main Street.

Instead of allowing children to go into their darkest fears, Kristian hopes that they will learn that Main Street is a wonderful place filled with the memories of a family member that had passed on, whether it is their favorite movie theater, theme park they loved going to, or flower shop. Main Street is not a one-size-fits-all but is unique to every person.

One of the military veterans deployed to help during the pandemic, Kristian wondered how children were coping with the death of loved ones.

“Even when someone leaves us to go visit their Main Street, you will never stop missing them. The greatest aspect of Main Street is, it is filled with memories of those we love, and until then, we can visit them anytime by closing our eyes and remembering them.”

From
Building Our Main Street

Kristian’s wife, Jessica, an assistant principal, helped inspire the idea for the book after her grandmother was in a nursing home. Leaving Disneyland one day, she mentioned how she wished elderly homes were like Main Street, a place full of different stores where you could get ice cream or go see a movie etc. A week later, Kristian thought of Building Our Main Street and crafted it and sent it to his wife. She wrote right back informing him that it made her cry, that it was beautiful and she had to share it with her co-workers. Reaffirming that he had finally wrote something that will help people, like he always wanted to do, she said, “This is the one.”

Building Our Main Street is a book for all ages; a way for families to talk about their fondest memories and what would be on their own personal Main Street. Instead of the end, it paves the way for the beginning of a new adventure.

Military Veteran & Children’s Book Author Helps Kids Deal with the Loss of a Loved One

Los Angeles County, CA – July 1, 2022 - The mental health of children has been especially at risk due to the Covid Pandemic. From April 2020 through June 2021, approximately 140,000 caregiver parents or grandparents died of Covid. It especially hit racial and ethnic minority groups cites the American Academy of Pediatrics study in December 2021.

In the U.S., an estimated 1 in 14, or over 5 million children under the age of 18, will experience the death of a parent or sibling (Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model) and children who lose a parent are more likely to be impacted by mental issues (Parentingforbrain.com).

A new book by Kristian James, Building Our Main Street, (AM Ink Publishing – July 15, 2022), is a way for parents and caregivers to teach their children that all is not lost when we lose a loved one.

Children learn that there is a magical place where our grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends go. It’s a place that is the opposite of death; a place where sunshine, ballgames, ice cream, movies, and other fun activities occur. It’s not the end, but a continuation.

Activated to the Riverside and Los Angeles County Coroner’s offices, 1st Lt. Kristian James can speak with first-hand knowledge of the devastation of Covid. During this time, his team has helped hospitals pick up over 5,500 people that passed away during this pandemic.

“I want to give young ones comfort when someone close to them has passed on, and with the recent pandemic, I believe this book is more important than ever as a tool to speak with children about the loss of a loved one.”
Kristian James