Welcome, Mom’s Choice readers! Today, we had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Maria Grace Wolk—psychotherapist, TEDx speaker, author, and, most importantly, a mom to two amazing boys. Her work supports people in healing from trauma with compassion and curiosity, so they can feel more whole, more present, and more alive. Dr. Wolk joins us to discuss her book, Hello Flutters! Tala and Toog Tower, which was written to help children ages 5 through 8 make sense of their feelings and find courage in the face of fear. In her book, she focuses on emotional wellness for families—how storytelling can be a healing tool —and how parents can use simple books, such as Hello Flutters, to help their children develop emotional strength. Through Tala’s journey, young readers discover that fear doesn’t mean stop—it means pause, notice, and proceed with courage. Instead of being afraid of their feelings, they learn to see, name, and understand them. Hello Flutters is a perfect resource for emotional regulation and self-awareness that parents, caregivers, therapists, and teachers can use to help kids learn to navigate big feelings with compassion and inner strength.

MCA: Maria, thanks so much for joining us today. Won’t you tell us something about yourself?

At my core, I’m a storyteller. Whether I’m writing children’s books like Hello Flutters, sharing my G.R.A.C.E. Matrix® method, or speaking on stages, everything I do is rooted in the belief that our stories—when met with safety and compassion—can become the very source of our strength.

Outside of work, I’m always drawn to what brings joy, sparks movement, and deepens connection. I’ve kept a daily run streak going for over 1,600 days—it’s my steady self-care. I train in Kung Fu with my boys, dance hula, and sing whenever I can. I love traveling to new places, learning about different cultures, and being near the ocean, to reset and recharge.

MCA: What inspired you to become an author, and how does your personal background or life experiences influence your writing?

I grew up between two cultures—born in the Philippines and raised in the United States. I was constantly navigating the space between languages, traditions, and expectations. I often felt like I didn’t fully belong in either world. I learned early on how to stay quiet, how to observe, how to fit in. But underneath that silence was a lot of anxiety, self-doubt, and a deep longing to feel seen and accepted just as I was.

Writing became my safe place. It was where I could process what I was feeling without having to explain or justify it. It helped me make sense of things I didn’t yet have the language to say out loud. As I got older and became a mental health therapist, I realized how many children—and adults—carry the weight of feeling like they don’t belong and trying to hide their fear just to fit in.

That’s what inspired me to become an author. I wanted to write stories that give voice to the feelings we’re often taught to ignore. Stories that teach children it’s okay to feel different. That their emotions are not wrong or too much—they’re actually clues that help them understand who they are.

My personal story lives in every page I write. It’s the heartbeat of Hello Flutters, and it continues to guide everything I create. Because every child deserves to feel safe in their own skin, and every story is a chance to help them get there.

MCA: I imagine that the feeling of not fitting in, or being an impostor, must be close to universal. Was there a specific occurrence that moved you to write this book?

The inspiration for Hello Flutters came from one quiet, powerful moment with my son.

He was in kindergarten, sitting cross-legged on the classroom rug, nervously twisting the ends of his sweater as he waited for his turn for his very first “show and tell.” I’ll never forget the look in his eyes. Wide, worried, searching. It was a look I knew well. It mirrored the same anxiety I had carried as a child—the kind that knots in your stomach and makes your heart race when all you want to do is disappear.

As a mom, it’s so hard to see your child struggle. Part of me wanted to scoop him up, take him home, and protect him from the discomfort.

But instead, I walked over, knelt beside him, and whispered in his ear, “Those butterflies in your tummy? I know they feel icky and uncomfortable. But they’re normal. It just means you’re about to do something brave. And I’m already so proud of you.”

That moment stayed with me. Maybe because it was the kind of reassurance I never received growing up. Or maybe because I knew, right then, he wasn’t the only child who needed to hear those words.

Hello Flutters was born from that moment. I wrote it to help children understand the sensations in their bodies and to know that their emotions—even the scary ones—don’t make them weak. They make them human. This book gives them the language to name their fear, the tools to understand it, and the courage to face it with compassion.

It’s the book I needed as a little girl. And the one I knew my son—and so many others—needed too.

My upcoming book, Say Hello to Fear, continues this mission for adults. Because healing doesn’t stop in childhood. We all deserve to learn how to work with fear rather than avoid it—to meet it not with shame, but with curiosity, compassion, and strength.

MCA: Can you share your creative process? How do you generate ideas and bring them to life on the page?

My ideas usually come during everyday moments—on walks with my kids, my daily runs in the mornings, and this small increments of time by myself. Mindfulness plays a big role in my creative process. It helps me slow down and notice the small things—those sparks of inspiration that are easy to miss when your mind is racing through a to-do list.

When I give myself permission to pause and breathe, I create more space for creativity to flow. Some of my best ideas have come when I’m not trying to force them—just staying present, listening, and letting the story find me.

MCA: Letting the story find you—what a wonderful way to express that truth. What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope Hello Flutters helps children recognize that their feelings aren’t scary—they’re signals. And I hope parents feel empowered, knowing they now have a simple, loving way to talk about emotions with their kids. I want families to remember that you don’t have to fix every feeling—you just have to walk through it together.

MCA: What do you find most rewarding about the writing process? Conversely, what are some of the challenges you face?

The most rewarding part is hearing a parent say, “This helped me talk to my child in a way I never knew how.” Or a child proudly announcing, “I get flutters too.”

It’s not always easy to write what’s real. But when I do, something magical happens—the story stops being mine alone. It becomes something others can see themselves in.

MCA: In what ways does your book contribute to promoting family-friendly values or enhancing the lives of your readers?

Hello Flutters helps build emotional literacy—something families can carry for a lifetime. It promotes courage, compassion, and connection.

It gives language to what many of us were never taught: how to feel without shame, how to pause before reacting, and how to show up for each other with love.

MCA: Can you share any memorable moments or feedback from readers that have touched you or reinforced the impact of your work?

A teacher told me a story that stayed with me. After reading Hello Flutters to her class, she invited the students to talk about times they had felt flutters in their own tummies. Because of how the story is written, it gave the students permission and courage to share without any hesitations. One by one brave students raised their hand and shared how nervous they felt before soccer tryouts. Another chimed in about a dentist appointment. Soon, the room filled with stories—small voices sharing big fears.

What struck the teacher most was how many of the kids had the same kinds of worries, and how surprised they were to hear they weren’t alone.

Some even said, “I thought I was the only one.” That day, they built connection, compassion, and courage right there in their classroom.

Moments like that remind me that Hello Flutters is a doorway into the conversations children are waiting for us to have. And it’s a reminder that when we help kids feel seen, they begin to believe they’re strong enough to face what’s hard.

MCA: What a terrific resource for young children! Tell us: What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting their writing journey?

Just start—and keep going.

Write the story that’s been sitting in your heart the longest. Don’t wait for the perfect time, or the perfect words. You don’t need permission, and you definitely don’t need perfection. You just need presence.

Know that there will be barriers. Doubt. Distraction. Disappointment. That’s all part of the journey. It’s not always going to be a smooth road—but that’s what gives the path depth and meaning.

Every challenge shapes your voice. Every setback builds your strength.

And don’t underestimate the power of your story to touch someone else’s life. We heal when we tell our truth—and children are incredible truth-tellers.

Trust them. Trust yourself. And keep writing.

MCA: Wonderful advice. Tell us, as an author, what are your future plans or goals?

I’m continuing the Hello Flutters series with Book 2; it’s in the works and I’m really excited about it. My adult book, Say Hello to Fear, based on my G.R.A.C.E. Matrix® framework, which teaches how to regulate emotions and heal trauma, is also close to completion.

My goal is to write stories that grow with the reader—offering emotional support and healing from early childhood through adulthood. Through storytelling, I want people of all ages to feel understood, grounded in their own emotions, and empowered to live with courage and compassion. After all, we live in a world that moves fast. Stories slow us down. They open hearts, build bridges, and create connection. And when a child learns that their story matters—they begin to live like it.

MCA: Providing emotional support and healing—what a wonderful mission. Thanks again for joining us, Maria.