Growing up as a child in the South, it was an ordinary inclination to pay attention to my younger brothers and sisters. Often my parents would leave me in charge when they had to attend to errands. It was my task to redirect them when they became involved in acts that were not in keeping with my parents' expectations. There were times when decisions had to be made on their behalf. At other times it was my role to guide them through situations where they could learn from experiences encountered, and to do so with the hope that they would come face to face with their decisions by paying attention to directions. Stuck in the Mud is about a group of animals who found themselves in a muddy situation, and how one who had the experience led them out of it. "Mud" becomes a symbol of young people getting caught up in a situation that is beyond their own ability to free themselves, and the ability to follow instructions on how best to overcome their situation. I believe Stuck in the Mud can be a liberating story for young people and their parents alike who are to insist upon following the invaluable directions of others in the arena of life.