We are thrilled to announce the second selection in our Low-Commitment Cool Mom Picks Book Club with a topic that’s near and dear to me: Radical Kindness: The Life-Changing Power of Giving and Receiving, from best-selling author, children’s TV creator, and Fred Rogers protégé, Angela Santomero,
(Psst…she’s one of our favorite Spawned Parenting Podcast guests too!)
And we’re so happy to bring the Cool Mom Picks Book Club to you with the support of our awesome sponsor, The Wines of Vinho Verde. Could there be a more perfect match? These versatile reds, whites, and rosés from Portugal go with whatever you’re eating, and whatever you’re reading.
Whatever stage of parenting you’re in — or maybe you’re not even a parent at all because this book is for everyone — we hope you’ll take this opportunity to grab a copy of Radical Kindness by Angela Santomero and follow along as we discuss this book live on our Facebook page. With Vinho Verde wine, of course.
Reminder: This is a low-pressure book club! Even if you don’t finish the book, get through only a few chapters, or are just interested in the topic of being kinder to yourself and others, you can still watch the video chat with community questions and comments. We’re busy too, we get it!
Discussion Guide Questions for Radical Kindness, by Angela Santomero
Whether you’ve got a copy of Radical Kindness: The Life-Changing Power of Giving and Receiving (get it from our affiliate Amazon or your local bookstore) or want to chat about it with friends in your own book club, we hope these questions help guide your reading and support you in making positive changes in your own life.
Her book can even help us parents think about how we talk to or teach our children.
We’ll also use these discussion points to guide our chat, as well as summarize lots of her great tips for practicing radical kindness in your own life.
1. We love the idea that being a kinder person overall must start with being kind to yourself, loving yourself, and giving your own needs attention. In what ways do you treat yourself with kindness? In what ways could you be better at it?
2. To help us be kinder to others, and come from a place of compassion, it helps to think of the effects even tiny gestures can have. Can you think of any acts of kindness from someone else that had a long-lasting effect on you?
3. Do you find that you are becoming more kind and compassionate as you get older, or is it harder for you?
4. Angela writes about the “power of the pause button” — stopping and thinking, “what does this person need and how can I help?” before simply reacting. What are some times with your own family that you are quick to react instead of acting? How can we get in the habit of changing that?
5. If you dedicate a “15-minute kindness” break each day, what could you do with the time? (Or..how about 5 or 10 minutes?)
6. The world is contentious right now. (As we all well know!) If you find yourself in a debate or disagreement, Angela describes seeing “the other” more with a childlike curiosity than with judgment. She describes tips like debating calmly and respectfully (even if you passionately disagree or are offended), taking the high road, and pausing or even walking away if you need. Can you think of a role model for this? Is there someone in your life or who you’ve watched do this really well? If so, can you channel them when you start to debate, and imagine them judging or scoring your own skills?
7. Kindness without credit or visible rewards can be its own reward. How do we teach our kids to be kind without reward? How do you talk to them about the difference between politeness and kindness?
8. What is one thing you know you can change about yourself for the better without too much “radical” effort?
Vinho Verde Arca Nova Loureiro: Wine Pairing Ideas
Wines from Portugal’s popular Loureiro grape are fresh and floral, with ripe fruit and a slight minerality. We’ve even seen it referred to as a “hip” wine from one columnist. A Loureiro wine is so light and perfect as the weather gets warmer, and if we can’t be drinking it in the Vinho Verde region ourselves, we’ll settle for our living room couches, with a good book. Of course.
While we know that many wines pair perfectly fine with many foods, wine is often best matched with foods from its own region — in this case, the Lima sub-region of the Vinho Verde region of northern Portugal. If you’re serving some book club munchies, our sommelier friends suggest pairing with:
-A fresh, homemade ceviche
-Light seafood dishes like crab cake bites, mini fish tacos or shrimp skewers
-Sushi or sashimi
-A tray of cheeses that are light and creamy, like goat cheeses, burrata or even a brie
-Veggie platters and crudité — consider tossing in some orange or grapefruit to complement the citrus, or dress a salad with a lime-based vinaigrette
-Grilled poultry, like chicken skewers
-Oysters, if you’re fancy
Cheers!
Thanks so much to our wonderful book club sponsor, the Wines of Vinho Verde, for their support!
