The "Mr. Fix It" series follows the adventures of Mr. Fix It and his best friend, Pugsley. Together, they explore life's challenges, learning valuable lessons about kindness, self-acceptance, and the power of positive words.
The series was inspired by my two autistic sons. My youngest son was non-verbal until he was four years old. His struggle to communicate led to increasing frustration and anger, even leading him to act out violently at school. In a world where such actions can have severe consequences, I knew something had to be done.
My husband, who I affectionately call Mr. Wizard, suggested we try radical kindness. Starting with a song that dubbed my youngest "Mr. Fix It," our journey of transformation began. My older son, the inspiration for Pugsley the WonderPug, faced different but equally challenging struggles.
As a Virtue Ethicist, my husband lives by Aristotle's virtues, but he combines it with Nell Noddings' philosophical concept of "ethics of care", striving to make balanced and ethical choices while maintaining interpersonal relationships. While this can be complex, I simplify these philosophical concepts into lessons that children can understand. These books serve as philosophy for children, broken down into manageable bites to teach them necessary thinking and coping skills.
Since focusing on kindness as our most important tool, both of my sons have made amazing strides in behavior and social function. It's a night-and-day transformation, and as Mr. Fix It and Pugsley grow in the stories, so do my boys in real life.
My hope is that every child will learn to practice kindness and understand the virtues, leading them to live their best lives. The ultimate message of these books is simple: everyone deserves love, and the best way to spread love is through kindness.
Thank you for reading this far. If you enjoy my books, please leave a review and share them forward. Let's spread the message of love through kindness for a better world.