Fall Reading

There's something about fall (even the pretend Florida version of fall) that makes me want to curl up under a blanket with a good book and a large mug of something hot. I also don't turn down snuggling with children and reading out loud to them. In case you are on a similar wavelength, I thought I'd provide a few of our latest and greatest.

Just returned to the library this morning, Brendan Wenzel's A Stone Sat Still is first on our list. Honestly, I didn't want to give it back. The illustrations were beautiful, and I wanted more time to talk with the kids about the meaning and depth that Wenzel provides. In a nutshell: some things change and some things remain the same, but perspective is everything.

My other favorite picture book choice for the month was not at all deep or moving, but was definitely hilarious. Neck & Neck by Elise Parsley had me laughing hard, and it'll crack you up too. This is what happens when a giraffe gets jealous of a balloon.

Twinkle doesn't look entertained in this photo,
but that was because she was ready for her nap.

My favorite middle grade series this month were The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon (those illustrations! that story line! those fantastic characters!) and Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes and its sequel Sophie Quire and the Story Guard by Jonathan Auxier (because all the things!). I neglected to get good pictures for either of these, so basically, I'm the worst. Love me anyway. I will say, as a tease, that I just picked up another Jonathan Auxier book from the library today, Sweep, because I liked Peter Nimble and Sophie Quire so much. Beautiful writing, thoughtful and creative. The kind of book I wish I could write. Although I thought that reading The Doldrums too (and listening to The Benedict Society with the kids--but I wasn't planning to write about that tonight).

But here I am with my copy of book 2 of the Doldrums
that I talked the Man into buying while we were in Maine.
Our suitcase was much heavier going home.
Bookstores, man...

Next up, two excellent non-fiction reads to add to your list. First, War of Words by Paul David Tripp. I don't know how many quotes I sent the Man from this, but it was a doozy. So much to learn. So much to think about. So much to try to implement. I have never been more conscious of the many ways I fail when I communicate with others (and I don't just mean yelling at my kids or being passive aggressive with my husband). But it wasn't just a kick in the rear. It was a kick in the rear that gave me hope that I could change.

My other favorite non-fiction book this month was Christopher McDougall's Born to Run. An absolutely fascinating look at the history of running chock full of fascinating stories and mind boggling characters. I loved learning about the Tarahumara and getting to hear McDougall's own story. But it really stunk to read it when I'm not currently running myself. So read it, and then go for a run in my honor.

Twinkle is posing with Mr Popper's Penguins here,
but it was too cute not to include.

Finally, on the fiction front, I ran across a Madeleine L'Engle book I hadn't read yet, The Other Side of the Sun. It was one of those books that desperately cried out for discussion, and the Man unfortunately had to put up with my persistent need to bring up race relations in the post-Civil War South while we were trying to have romantic dinners together while flying sans kids in New England. If you happen to read it, send me an email letting me know what you thought. I'm still mulling it over even though it's been a week since I finished it.

But what about you? What are you reading? And if you're not reading, you now have multiple options to choose from, so what's stopping you? Hit up your local library (or fill up your suitcase with books the next time you have a fun trip) and then cocoon yourself in a blanket for a good read. Don't worry. The kids will fend for themselves just fine. And when they stop fending for themselves, you have read aloud options for them.

Taking a Break

I used to think that, as a stay at home mom, there wasn't much difference between a regular day and a weekend. The same messes were made; the same messes were cleaned up. The early mornings continued, regardless of any attempts for late night fun. The same meals had to be cooked; the same laundry thrown in; the same discipline issues worked on. And then I started homeschooling.

She wanted a cross between a moth and a bat
in front of a full moon...
because of course.

Orange polka dot butterfly happiness.

At first, I didn't really notice that there was a difference. But there was. Suddenly, on Saturday's, instead of slogging through reading and math, I could get alone time and quiet (while the Man handled the kids like the boss he is). Saturdays and Sundays, while still full of the every day work every parent encounters, suddenly became regroup time: those few precious hours where I could take deep breaths and convince myself I could do it all over again the next week. Sure, they were also about family time and enjoying having the Man home and the regular challenges of having children, but really, they were mostly centered on trying to catch my second wind.

Toothless Bat Boy

Tennessee football is serious business
and also incredibly saddening.

Channeling his inner Harry "Pottern"
before he goes to tackle the "Basilack".

Then, this last Saturday, somehow I found myself actually wanting to--gasp!--play with my kids instead of recover from their company. I sat down on the floor and voluntarily colored with my oldest daughter for an hour that day. Somehow, it felt like being a real mom, who was actually taking a sabbath from being a homeschool mom for once. And I loved it.

My coloring buddy/mini-me.

So, I think I'm going to try it again this weekend. Except this time maybe I'll play a legit game with my kids that isn't trying to teach them their times tables. Or bake macaroons and not count it as a home economics course mixed with fraction review time. Or take them to the beach and not have an impromptu natural science lesson on manta rays. But who am I kidding? Let's not get too crazy here. If you see a manta ray in its natural habitat, you have to discuss camouflage and survival skills and the differences between it and a sting ray.

I will make myself sick eating these,
and I will feel twice the regret
thanks to Bee's skip counting.

I guess what I'm discovering is that I want to make sure that every now and then, I press pause on teaching my children while I still have enough energy to enjoy them, because otherwise? What's the point. Also, somehow, they still end up finding ways to squeeze in school when I'm taking a break on the weekends...like skip counting their twos while I stuff my face with cookies. Funny about that.