this is so great! I also find it really helpful to stash a couple books around the house--usually an easier bedtime read on my nightstand and maybe some nonfiction in the living room, a magazine or newspaper in the kitchen--so I can pick up reading if I have a few minutes anywhere in the house. I also decided a couple years ago I really wanted my kids to see me reading physical books, and I use the library a *ton* for that. (all of this works better, of course, once your kids are old enough that they don't require *constant* supervision--definitely harder to find reading time when you've got toddlers!)
Yes, I too make a great effort for them to see me reading a book. I love the idea of having something to read in every room. I have just started bringing a book with me in the car too. Today I was waiting for 5 minutes at preschool pickup and instead of scrolling on my phone, I read a few pages. I am a big believer in engineering your environment to serve what you value. My kids are finally at an age where independent play is more dominant, so that helps for sure.
Yes to tip #3 and #4. And stashing books/reading everywhere! I ALSO decide when I get a book (nonfiction) how much of the book I will count as having “read” it. It’s a little different than abandoning a book. It’s a kind of pre-acknowledgement and pre-forgiveness... And many books do repeat themselves. If you’ve read 3-4 chapters, you’ve probably got the gist!
I love this Marika! You are so right, I often can find the information interesting but after awhile it becomes repetitive. I love the idea of acknowledgement and forgiveness proactively.
Woah - I read a ton w my kiddos around but it’s weird and disjointed and they’ve grown really used to me with book in hand...I found it helpful to read books I didn’t care about as much (leaned heavily into romance and contemporary fiction), started a tentative foray into audiobooks when I’m doing dishes or on walks. I also found it helpful to download the kindle app (and Libby app) on my phone and bounce between kindle and phone reading. I read while breastfeeding, when stuck in the kids room for the prolonged bedtime routine, while my kid naps in the car etc etc.
How do you do the audio paired w physical? Isn’t it hard to find the place in the audiobook or the physical book? I am blown away by this idea and want to start utilizing it!
Yes, I did a lot of reading during breastfeeding when my kids were young, totally. a great resource of "time".
There are definitely some things I learned about going in between the physical book and the audio. The first book I did it with didn't go well because the reader was awful on the audiobook, so I avoided the audiobook. So a good reader, but this is a need for any audiobook. I have found that books with shorter chapters are helpful because then it is easier to jump in between and audiobooks that have clearly labeled chapters is important too. Now I get the book from the library first and read the first 10-15 pages to make sure I am into it before I get the audiobook. It's not too difficult to find your place in the physical book moving from the audiobook but the reverse can be tricky so if I do sometimes try to read to the end of the chapter if I know I plan to listen to the audiobook later, so shorter chapters make that easier. I have only done this so far with non-fiction but I am going to try fiction next.
I loved the reminder that we can "quit" books we aren't feeling or don't like...sometimes I have even found that a book I stopped reading years ago resurfaced at the right time at a future date...books come into and out of our lives and I appreciate the advice/reminder. Great article! :)
You are welcome. I really loved it, it was practical, compassionate and most importantly helpful! I read it at this odd juncture where I had moved to being at home full time with my kids but planning my future moves professionally and it was useful to have it as a resource for this stage too.
I love to read (I literally remember getting an award back in 4th grade for being the most avid reader, and my mom had a print in my childhood bedroom that said Laura spent most of her childhood lost in her books that depicted me fading into a wall of books). I was so disheartened that I only read 10 books the year I was pregnant with my daughter (anxiety was at an all time high so I watched a lot of comfort tv which at the time was Love It or List It and the reruns of America’s Next Top Model on Hulu that were the cycles from when I was in high school). I had hoped that 2020 would be better even with an infant, but then the pandemic shut down my library, and instead of moving to buying books or reading what we already owned, I just didn’t read for months and frankly doom scrolled way too much. I was still working in childcare the whole time (my workplace luckily never closed, I just worked reduced hours in March/April and received partial unemployment, and I did administrative tasks with my friend Armando of making sure everyone’s curriculum binders were in order in May when they got a grant for all of us to return to full time hours). My daughter was in the infant room that whole time, and despite being worried about our status, we never got anything more than a cold that year. I did only read a handful of books, though I remember a Lucille Ball biography that I enjoyed being the one book I read in 2020 that stuck with me. I started reading more again in the last few years (like 15-20 books a year), and find myself drawn to more romances (Emily Henry, Jasmine Guillory are two favorites, and of course I have read a few Colleen Hoover books). Since I have a young daughter, when I am reading, I prioritize reading in any pockets of time that I have, and now that she’s older and better at independent play, that includes allowing her to play while I read nearby.
My favorite book of 2023 was Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan (about a divorced couple who found their way back to each other after much therapy for both in the aftermath of losing their 3rd child). I am reading Momfluenced by Sara Petersen as my first book of the year and plan to read Fat Talk next!
I loved Momfluenced so much! I was going to put it on the list but I had put in recs a few weeks ago but it definitely ranks up there. Independent play can be such a gift for both kids and parents :)
this is so great! I also find it really helpful to stash a couple books around the house--usually an easier bedtime read on my nightstand and maybe some nonfiction in the living room, a magazine or newspaper in the kitchen--so I can pick up reading if I have a few minutes anywhere in the house. I also decided a couple years ago I really wanted my kids to see me reading physical books, and I use the library a *ton* for that. (all of this works better, of course, once your kids are old enough that they don't require *constant* supervision--definitely harder to find reading time when you've got toddlers!)
Yes, I too make a great effort for them to see me reading a book. I love the idea of having something to read in every room. I have just started bringing a book with me in the car too. Today I was waiting for 5 minutes at preschool pickup and instead of scrolling on my phone, I read a few pages. I am a big believer in engineering your environment to serve what you value. My kids are finally at an age where independent play is more dominant, so that helps for sure.
Yes to tip #3 and #4. And stashing books/reading everywhere! I ALSO decide when I get a book (nonfiction) how much of the book I will count as having “read” it. It’s a little different than abandoning a book. It’s a kind of pre-acknowledgement and pre-forgiveness... And many books do repeat themselves. If you’ve read 3-4 chapters, you’ve probably got the gist!
I love this Marika! You are so right, I often can find the information interesting but after awhile it becomes repetitive. I love the idea of acknowledgement and forgiveness proactively.
Woah - I read a ton w my kiddos around but it’s weird and disjointed and they’ve grown really used to me with book in hand...I found it helpful to read books I didn’t care about as much (leaned heavily into romance and contemporary fiction), started a tentative foray into audiobooks when I’m doing dishes or on walks. I also found it helpful to download the kindle app (and Libby app) on my phone and bounce between kindle and phone reading. I read while breastfeeding, when stuck in the kids room for the prolonged bedtime routine, while my kid naps in the car etc etc.
How do you do the audio paired w physical? Isn’t it hard to find the place in the audiobook or the physical book? I am blown away by this idea and want to start utilizing it!
Yes, I did a lot of reading during breastfeeding when my kids were young, totally. a great resource of "time".
There are definitely some things I learned about going in between the physical book and the audio. The first book I did it with didn't go well because the reader was awful on the audiobook, so I avoided the audiobook. So a good reader, but this is a need for any audiobook. I have found that books with shorter chapters are helpful because then it is easier to jump in between and audiobooks that have clearly labeled chapters is important too. Now I get the book from the library first and read the first 10-15 pages to make sure I am into it before I get the audiobook. It's not too difficult to find your place in the physical book moving from the audiobook but the reverse can be tricky so if I do sometimes try to read to the end of the chapter if I know I plan to listen to the audiobook later, so shorter chapters make that easier. I have only done this so far with non-fiction but I am going to try fiction next.
Chapter swaps and short chapters! Brilliant! I’m going to give that a try in 2024
Great! Happy to share my nerdy reading habits, let me know if it's working for you.
I loved the reminder that we can "quit" books we aren't feeling or don't like...sometimes I have even found that a book I stopped reading years ago resurfaced at the right time at a future date...books come into and out of our lives and I appreciate the advice/reminder. Great article! :)
I'm so honored to have made your loved books of 2023 list, thank you Kathryn! Terrific tips for reading more!
You are welcome. I really loved it, it was practical, compassionate and most importantly helpful! I read it at this odd juncture where I had moved to being at home full time with my kids but planning my future moves professionally and it was useful to have it as a resource for this stage too.
I love to read (I literally remember getting an award back in 4th grade for being the most avid reader, and my mom had a print in my childhood bedroom that said Laura spent most of her childhood lost in her books that depicted me fading into a wall of books). I was so disheartened that I only read 10 books the year I was pregnant with my daughter (anxiety was at an all time high so I watched a lot of comfort tv which at the time was Love It or List It and the reruns of America’s Next Top Model on Hulu that were the cycles from when I was in high school). I had hoped that 2020 would be better even with an infant, but then the pandemic shut down my library, and instead of moving to buying books or reading what we already owned, I just didn’t read for months and frankly doom scrolled way too much. I was still working in childcare the whole time (my workplace luckily never closed, I just worked reduced hours in March/April and received partial unemployment, and I did administrative tasks with my friend Armando of making sure everyone’s curriculum binders were in order in May when they got a grant for all of us to return to full time hours). My daughter was in the infant room that whole time, and despite being worried about our status, we never got anything more than a cold that year. I did only read a handful of books, though I remember a Lucille Ball biography that I enjoyed being the one book I read in 2020 that stuck with me. I started reading more again in the last few years (like 15-20 books a year), and find myself drawn to more romances (Emily Henry, Jasmine Guillory are two favorites, and of course I have read a few Colleen Hoover books). Since I have a young daughter, when I am reading, I prioritize reading in any pockets of time that I have, and now that she’s older and better at independent play, that includes allowing her to play while I read nearby.
My favorite book of 2023 was Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan (about a divorced couple who found their way back to each other after much therapy for both in the aftermath of losing their 3rd child). I am reading Momfluenced by Sara Petersen as my first book of the year and plan to read Fat Talk next!
I loved Momfluenced so much! I was going to put it on the list but I had put in recs a few weeks ago but it definitely ranks up there. Independent play can be such a gift for both kids and parents :)
Yes, I definitely found books later again. So sometimes it's a not yet.