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What if moving forward sometimes begins with allowing someone to give you a push?

In Homeless Carol — Book 6: The Swing, Carol sits on a playground swing as two warm, gentle figures stand behind her, ready to help her move.

At first, the swing seems simple.

Hold the chains.
Lean back.
Move your legs.
Trust the rhythm.

But every child responds differently.

Some wait for help without asking.
Some refuse support because they want to prove they can do everything alone.
Some spend all their energy pushing others and forget their own needs.
Some keep track of every favor they give.
Some offer help so carefully that the other person barely moves.
Others work so hard to create momentum by themselves that they become exhausted.

As Carol and her friends take turns pushing and being pushed, they begin to understand that support is not weakness.

A push can represent encouragement.
Guidance.
Love.
Opportunity.
Trust.
Or the presence of someone who believes in us before we fully believe in ourselves.

The Swing transforms an ordinary playground experience into a meaningful story about relationships, emotional support, boundaries, trust, gratitude, and personal growth.

What Readers Will Learn

• Why asking for help is not a sign of weakness
• How encouragement can create confidence
• The difference between support and control
• Why constantly helping others can lead to exhaustion
• How keeping score can damage generosity
• Why trust is necessary when receiving help
• How healthy support can lead to greater independence
• Why everyone needs both opportunities to give and receive

Key Themes

Support
Understanding how encouragement and guidance can help someone move forward.

Trust
Allowing another person to help without giving up personal responsibility.

Independence
Learning that receiving support can eventually help us move on our own.

Boundaries
Knowing when to help, when to rest, and when to allow others to participate.

Gratitude
Recognizing the people who helped create momentum in our lives.

The Pushes We Remember

Every child in the story experiences support differently.

Some receive it easily.
Some reject it.
Some give too much.
Some wait silently.
Some fear they will owe something in return.

Carol learns that a healthy push does not force someone to move in a direction they did not choose.

It simply helps them discover the movement they were already capable of creating.

Perfect For

• Children learning to ask for and accept help
• Families discussing trust, support, and independence
• Teachers and homeschool programs
• Social-emotional learning activities
• Classroom conversations about friendship and healthy boundaries
• Youth leadership and mentoring programs
• Readers developing confidence and emotional awareness

Suggested Age Range

Ages 7–12, with meaningful lessons for families, educators, mentors, and young readers.

Closing Message

Sometimes you will be the one who pushes.

Sometimes you will be the one who needs support.

And sometimes, one small act of encouragement can create enough momentum to change everything.

Trust the support. Find your rhythm. Help someone else rise.