Going to South Little Birdie

By Kelly Garrett

When I was growing up, my dad took his secretary and walked out on my pregnant mom (with child number eight). He went on to marry five more times. Their divorce dragged on for years. My mom worked two and sometimes three jobs just to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. She raised seven kids, kept us off drugs, and held the family together through pure Italian grinta (courage and resolve). We weren't perfect-far from it-but we made it.

Money was tight, the backyard pool literally turned into a swamp, and everyday life felt like one exhausting challenge after another. No dramatic trauma-just real, grinding family chaos that, at times, left me feeling overwhelmed, overlooked, and unsure. But my grandma, with her big heart and unyielding faith, always knew what to say. With warm, straight-talking wisdom like "The Good Lord gave you two hands," "Where there's a will, there's a way," and "This too shall pass," she showed me how to keep moving forward.

In Going to South Little Birdie, I share these timeless lessons alongside my own honest, funny, and sometimes painful stories. This book is for every teen and young adult who feels like their problems "aren't bad enough" to count. They do. The pressure, the family chaos, the uncertainty-coupled with social media-it all matters. Your struggles are real. You can get through them.

Perseverance. Gratitude. Faith. Kindness. Honesty. Simple truths that still work-even in today's tough world. If you've ever felt like giving up, this is your reminder: You're still breathing, aren't you?

Keep going. Better days are ahead. Just like Grandma always said.

Hugs,
Poodessa

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08JF8GD7M
• ISBN13: 9798653220876
• Release Date: September 2020
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 106 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"