Ten-year-old honor student and author Demetrius Martin speaks with a wisdom and insight that belies his youth. His words flow calm and steady as he speaks about his debut children’s book, I Really Miss My Dad. The book, written in response to the brutal murder of his father, draws from Demetrius’ personal experiences in grief counseling.
“There are a lot of children experiencing grief and sadness, and I want them to know they are not alone. I also want the bad guys to rethink their decisions to be violent toward others. Their violence doesn’t just impact the victims, it hurts their families as well,” the precocious young man said.
On June 30, 2010, the elder Demetrius Martin was gunned down on Detroit’s northwest side. He was 41. The crime has remained unsolved, and the pain of his loss is still being felt by his son and family.
“I was unprepared to help my son deal with his grief, so I got him into a program that could help,” said Demetrius Martin’s mother, Erica Martin-Jones. Recognizing she needed to get help for her son, Martin-Jones placed her son in Open Arms Bereavement Counseling, offered through St. John Health System. The free program was instrumental in the writing of I Really Miss My Dad.
“My counselor Phyliss Kerney taught me how to process my sadness and anger in a healthy way. She told me to scream in my pillow, go outside and run, and write in my journal,” Demetrius shared. “I also listened to Eminem’s song “I Am Not Afraid” to give me the courage I needed to overcome my fears.” The end result of the eight-week counseling program is a phenomenal story of triumph in the face of adversity.
Using the lessons he learned in counseling, Demetrius has created a book that has a universal message of hope and inspiration for children coping with the loss of a parent to violence.
Slated for release on Dec. 15, I Really Miss My Dad covers the far-reaching impact that a parent’s death has on children, including unhealthy responses to tragedy. In the story, lead character Aaron considers committing suicide in order to be with his deceased parent.
“I am happy my mother got me in counseling because it really helped me, and now I can help others. Parents who have a grieving child should get them counseling, take them to different places and give them a copy of I Really Miss My Dad to help them process their sadness,” the young author said.
Available for pre-order through Second Time Media, which is owned by Erica Martin-Jones, I Really Miss My Dad is a timely gift for those who are grieving the loss of a parent. It is also a must read for those who think violence is the correct way to solve problems.
“When my son told me he wanted to write a book, it made my heart proud. He has always been a giver; it’s who he is,” said Martin-Jones as she held her son in her arms.
“In the middle of the worst tragedy, he was thinking of ways to help others.”
The release of I Really Miss My Dad is just the first step for Demetrius Martin. The honor roll student is fast becoming a media favorite due to his ability to articulate his sorrow with poise and confidence. He was nominated for the Do the Right Thing Award by the Urban League of Southeast Michigan.
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