By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — Role models come from many avenues in life — professional athletes, entertainers, educators, co-workers, the neighbor next door, family members and everything in between.

Kitt Parker’s role model is Laura Bush.

Yep, that Laura Lane Welch Bush, former first lady of the state of Texas, and first lady of the United States when husband George W. Bush served as America’s 43rd president from 2001 to 2009.

Just 8 years old, Ms. Parker’s admiration began when she saw Mrs. Bush on stage at her father-in-law George H.W. Bush’s inauguration as president of the United States.

“I’ve always admired her, once she became a public figure. She inspired me from a young age and continues to inspire me. She is more than politics to me; she is my beacon of grace, class and hope,” Ms. Parker said. “She is my role model.”

Several decades later, Ms. Parker has put her thoughts and blog submissions into the book “#What Would Laura Bush Do? The Power of a Role Model.”

It is the first book written by Ms. Parker, an accomplished writer, journalist, educator and community activist.

“Laura is always so calm, kind and classy. I mean, let’s be honest, her husband didn’t have the best presidency, but it never reflected in her. She was always just a kind-hearted person. She never had anything bad to say about anyone or anything,” said Ms. Parker. “And I just think the world needs more of that.”

This story all began in-house among co-workers and family. At the urging of Logan Anderson, her former newspaper co-worker who is now owner of Triangle House Media, LLC, her entries became part of a 160-page softback publication.

“I started the blog years ago just to write, but really for no intended purposes, except for me and my friends. Then Logan’s company, Triangle House Media, contacted me last year about making it a book,” said Ms. Parker.

There was initial hesitation.

“At first I was like, ‘I’m not sure, because this is like putting my heart out there.’ And I didn’t know if I wanted everyone to read it. Then I finally agreed that we can publish it into a book and we just ran with the idea from there,” said Ms. Parker.

The book shares events and nuggets of Ms. Parker’s rollercoaster journey through life.

“It’s just different ups and downs in my life that I have had to stop and ask, ‘What would Laura Bush do?’ and how I believe she would handle both good and bad, success and failure,” said Ms. Parker. “So, #when I have an issue, I just stop and ask, ‘What would Laura Bush do?’ and then I try to do what I would imagine she would do in this world.”

Her first blog was published April 14, 2014. “There were years in between writing, but there are probably around 100 entries to date,” said Ms. Parker.

A 1999 Laurel High School graduate, Ms. Parker has a bachelor’s degree in English/journalism from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education degree from Wilmington University.

A resident of Georgetown, Ms. Parker has taught journalism at Delaware Technical Community College since 2012. One of her early writing jobs was with The Leader & State Register and Sussex Post newspapers.

She places immense emphasis and value in role models.

“I think it’s a huge importance, depending on if it’s a role model that you can aspire to. I am not an athletic person and while I like athletes, they are not really going to be my role model because they don’t do anything that I can do,” said Ms. Parker. “And while I am not going to be first lady, Laura, she is a kind person and I can be that person.

“I think having a role model gives you direction. And when you don’t know what to do about a situation, because life is hard and sometimes, you’re not going to know what to do, you have a role model that you just go to for guidance. You’re just going to be a better person. And young people’s role models are going to change as they get older. Again, we need more kindness in the world and if it starts out young and continues, it is just going to make for better humans.”

Not yet available on store shelves due to the pandemic, Ms. Parker’s book is available online through major companies such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. It will be available in e-book as well, and soon as an audio book.

A virtual book presentation was held recently.

In the summer of 2012, Ms. Parker attended a Nanticoke Health Services event – From the Heart/ For the Heart – at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino that featured Ms. Bush, an advocate of women’s health whose memoir, “Spoken From the Heart,” was a New York Times No. 1 best seller.

“She walked by us,” Ms. Parker said. “So, we didn’t get to actually meet her. But we were at least in the same room with her.”

Of course, Ms. Parker said plans are to send a special copy to her role model.

“We are going to send her a copy of it. I’m going to write a nice note and send it to her,” said Ms. Parker. “Nothing may come of it. But, I mean, who wouldn’t want to know that there is someone out there living their life like you? So maybe it will get in her hands. You never know!.”

The website for Ms. Parker’s blog can be found here.