As a child, I read what I had to and whatever I could find, even if that meant the bottom of a tissue box in a pinch. In my years as a student, my pleasure reading may have been usurped at times by my school requirements, but it was there in whatever capacity possible. When I became a teacher, much of my reading was of the professional journals and education guides variety, with the occasional novel sneaking its way in there, too. Then I became a parent, and I was introduced to an entirely new shelf at the Barnes & Noble: the overwhelming and often terrifying section labeled Parenting.
Fast forward nine years, and I can say that the collection of parenting guides on my shelves, my bedside table, and even in a box in the attic could supply my very own little specialty shop. Want some information on raising a reader? I'm your gal. Curious about what to expect from the moment you know you're pregnant to the end of your offspring's childhood? Check, check, check, and good grief, lots of checks. Need some information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Look no further, I've got a personal library. Ditto for behavioral problems and approaches, effective communication strategies for parents, breastfeeding advice, teaching manners... and really, I could go on some more, but my brain is about to explode.
While I have actually read the vast majority of my collection, I can't say with any amount of certainty that I have retained even 50% of what I've read. I read, I highlight, I jot down thoughts on sticky notes, I bookmark for my husband- all in the hope that these efforts will make me a Better Parent. That's what it all comes down to, at the end of the reading session. I buy these books and I read these pages sometimes hoping for validation, but mostly in search of direction. Not that I'm completely lost (I think), but these roads can often be tricky to navigate, and the travel conditions aren't always amenable. There are a ton of distractions along the way, and checking in every once in a while is always a good idea, just in case I've run off-course, which unfortunately happens more than I'd like to admit.
My sagging bookshelves will continue to read like a virtual parenting library for many years to come, with some well-worn titles getting referred back to for refresher directions time and again. As my oldest is just starting to navigate these horribly-monikered 'tween' years, my gut tells me that I'll soon have to open a completely new subsection for future issues that I can't even imagine yet. Let's hope my stocking is stuffed with bookstore gift cards this year!
This is an original DC Metro Moms post.
Dawn blogs nonsense about her family at my thoughts exactly, but tries to sound intelligent when she reviews books at 5 Minutes for Books.
While I have actually read the vast majority of my collection, I can't say with any amount of certainty that I have retained even 50% of what I've read. I read, I highlight, I jot down thoughts on sticky notes, I bookmark for my husband- all in the hope that these efforts will make me a Better Parent. That's what it all comes down to, at the end of the reading session. I buy these books and I read these pages sometimes hoping for validation, but mostly in search of direction. Not that I'm completely lost (I think), but these roads can often be tricky to navigate, and the travel conditions aren't always amenable. There are a ton of distractions along the way, and checking in every once in a while is always a good idea, just in case I've run off-course, which unfortunately happens more than I'd like to admit.
My sagging bookshelves will continue to read like a virtual parenting library for many years to come, with some well-worn titles getting referred back to for refresher directions time and again. As my oldest is just starting to navigate these horribly-monikered 'tween' years, my gut tells me that I'll soon have to open a completely new subsection for future issues that I can't even imagine yet. Let's hope my stocking is stuffed with bookstore gift cards this year!
This is an original DC Metro Moms post.
Dawn blogs nonsense about her family at my thoughts exactly, but tries to sound intelligent when she reviews books at 5 Minutes for Books.
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