MIMI'S STRATEGY What to do about your imaginary friend

By Linda Goudsmit

What happens when an imaginary friend becomes the excuse for mistakes and misbehavior?

Hildy has an imaginary friend named Tallulah and blames Tallulah whenever she gets into trouble. To demonstrate the difference between an imaginary excuse and what happened in real life, Mimi asks Hildy to imagine Francesca taking Hildy's snack and then blaming Tallulah. Hildy learns that she is the boss of Tallulah and, later, when Hildy accidentally spills her milk, she remembers the strategy and accepts responsibility instead of blaming Tallulah.

Mimi's Strategy: "The next time YOU start to blame Tallulah, I want you to STOP and picture Francesca taking your snack."

What children will learn:
- Distinguish taking responsibility for one's real-life actions from make-believe excuses.
- Stop and identify what actually happened before assigning blame.
- Take ownership of mistakes and clean up after them when relevant.
- Practice using imagination as a tool without allowing it to replace accountability.
Perfect for:
- Homeschool and public-school families teaching responsibility and truthfulness.
- Homeschool and public-school educators discussing imagination alongside real-world consequences.
- Parents dealing with repeated blame-shifting or excuses.
- Grandparents looking for a playful story with a clear lesson about taking responsibility.

Part of the growing Mimi's Strategy series, an expanding collection of illustrated books by Linda Goudsmit that turn everyday childhood problems into opportunities to stop, think, and choose a successful strategy to solve each problem. Designed for ages 3-8, the series gives families and educators a warm, repeatable way to talk about responsibility, independence, competence, self-control, critical thinking, and family life.

"Learning to think strategically rather than react emotionally is a valuable skill that will empower any child throughout his or her life. Plus, I have yet to meet the child who would prefer a reprimand to a kiss." - Linda Goudsmit

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1953255086
• ISBN13: 9781953255082
• Release Date: January 2021
• Publisher: Contrapoint Publishing
• Length: 42 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 3 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3