Dad creates books to honour son who died from undiagnosed brain tumour

Every year the 13th of August represents a very special day for me, my family and Adams Cloud. Not only does it mark the day my life changed forever when Adam left us and shared his beautiful message, the importance of love, laughter and fun in the family, but it is also the same date when my own life began, as today on Adam’s anniversary I celebrate my 50th birthday.

Parties and birthday fuss haven’t featured much over the last 13 years as my birthday has become a reflective day, spent lovingly remembering and celebrating Adam. Filled with that powerful sense of love and an unexplainable sense of magic and peace I always get my special birthday present each year as somehow the corners of my lips find a way to stretch upwards along each side of my face gently delivering the most precious of birthday gifts, a smile, as I think of a happy moment that I had with Adam.

This smile is Adam’s birthday gift to me every year. His message of love is his gift to the world at a time when many of us are realising the benefits and importance of spending valuable time with our families.

If I did not take a moment to stop, look and listen to my children, I would never have experienced, captured and built up the huge collection of my most treasured possessions that are the memories of all the most wonderful and deeply happy times that I had with Adam. It is a collection of memories that has given me the inspiration to create something magical to keep Adam alive forever in my heart and mind and in the imagination of children who enjoy his wonderful adventures.

Adam had a life like no other. He was happy, full of love and always smiling and giggling. His long golden curls always stood out and his big brown eyes sparkled as bright as his enchanting and affectionate personality. Adam died suddenly and without warning from an undiagnosed brain tumour in 2007 just after his 4th Birthday.

But in those 4 short years Adam was filled with a lifetime of fun, love and happiness and left beautiful memories for his family to cherish forever. His infectious personality was enchanting as kindness, positivity, excitement and goodness radiated from his always smiling face accompanied with a mischievous twinkle and a giddy giggle. A promising little sports man, he won a local U5 tennis tournament when he was just 3 and he had a great love of all sports, reading, exploring and adventure.

This photo is a reminder of those incredibly happy times. Adam’s message is a simple reminder to just take a little time out to spend with our families and tell our children that they are loved. Sharing Adams message and living with a little tiny piece of Adam in our hearts and in our children’s hearts would be one of the most precious gifts I could ever imagine for my 50th birthday.

About Benji Bennett

Children's book author Benji Bennett has three kids - Harry, Robbie and Molly - with his wife, Jackie. The loss of their four-year-old son Adam in 2007 inspired him to write the Adam's series of books, the message of which is 'bringing families closer'.

Adam’s Message Bringing Families Closer

Because of the powerful emotional connection made through reading combined with the positive bonding benefits that intimate one on one time has on children’s happiness from birth. Adam’s message simply encourages parents to spend 10 minutes reading with their children and telling them they love them each night before they go to sleep. Also, as Adam benefited hugely from regular adventures outdoors immersed in nature another key ingredient to children’s happiness is regular family days out walking, climbing, playing or simply chatting together.

Adams message is delivered through this little poem at the beginning of each book.

When we tell children they are loved every day we teach them to both love and be loved. We reassure them, teach them empathy and help them display emotion and affection and build confidence and lines of communication. From love comes love. From love comes respect for both us as their parents, for themselves and people around them.

This is Adam’s message and it is this philosophy in action that has inspired these beautiful award winning books by his dad, Benji Bennett.

“If you read to your children from the moment they are born, tell them you love them and take them for a walk as often as you can you are doing something right. The rest we just have to figure out as we go.” Benji Bennett

If you would like to learn more about Adam’s Cloud or would like to purchase some of the beautifully written and illustrated books, you can visit the website here.

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