The Real Story Behind The Bumpy Pumpkin (And Why It Took 10 Years to Share)

Sometimes the best stories need time to ripen

The other day, a curious little reader asked me why I chose to write about a funny-looking pumpkin. I loved the question, and the answer might surprise you. This story has been waiting a decade to meet you.

From Halloween Obsession to Heart Story

Growing up, Halloween was magic. My mom, the official "Queen of Halloween," transformed our house into an epic wonderland every October. My mom decorated inside the house and out - it was pure magic.

I inherited this Halloween obsession (some might say it's genetic), and now my friends patiently endure my annual transformation of every available space into spooky spectacular territory. They're good sports about navigating through fake cobwebs to find the coffee maker.

The Pumpkin That Changed Everything

Ten years ago, while living in Florida where "fall" is more of a theoretical concept than an actual season (90 degrees in October, anyone?), I went pumpkin hunting at the local store. Among rows of Instagram-perfect pumpkins, smooth, round, practically glowing orange, one misfit caught my eye.

This pumpkin was having a MOMENT. Covered in orange, green, and yellow bumps, sporting a stem that twisted like it was dancing, it looked like it had personality to spare. While other shoppers reached for the "pretty" pumpkins, I saw something different: the coolest pumpkin I'd ever met.

I named it the Bumpy Pumpkin right there in the produce aisle (yes, I talk to vegetables), and that's when the seed for this story was planted.

Why the 10-Year Wait?

This was actually the very first children's book I ever wrote, two years ago. But here's the thing about special stories. They know when their time has come. I held onto it, polishing it, waiting for just the right moment to share its message.

Why now? Because in today's world of filtered photos and impossible standards, kids need to hear this more than ever: being different isn't a bug, it's a feature. Your bumps, quirks, and twisty stems? That's what makes you the perfect pick for someone looking for exactly YOU.

The Message That Matters

Every time I share this story, whether with a room full of kindergarteners or a single child at a bookstore, I see the recognition dawn on their faces. They get it. They have felt like the bumpy pumpkin. We all have.

And that's the magic. When kids realize their differences aren't problems to solve but gifts to celebrate. When they understand that somewhere, someone is looking for exactly what makes them unique.

The Universal Truth

Working with children of all ages as a bonus adult in their lives has taught me something profound: every child, at some point, feels like the bumpy pumpkin in a patch of seemingly perfect others. Whether it's glasses, freckles, a different way of learning, or just feeling out of step with everyone else, we all have our bumps.

The beautiful part? Those bumps aren't flaws in the design. They're the design itself.

Your Turn

I'd love to hear about your family's "bumpy pumpkin" moments. Those times when being different turned out to be exactly right. Share them with me, because every story of embracing uniqueness makes our patch a little brighter.

After all, who wants a world full of perfectly smooth pumpkins when we could have a wonderfully bumpy, delightfully different patch instead?

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