A core childhood memory of mine is my mom reading and the huge stack of books that sat behind her bed. There were hundreds of books and I knew she read all of them. As a teen, I grew a stack of my own, but often I would steal from hers — taking one off the shelf, reading it, putting it back and then taking another.
That love of books never left me, and as an adult, I felt like an avid reader.
However, when I became a parent and when the kids were little, my reading time became theirs.
I didn’t mind that my personal yearly book counts decreased, as it was time well spent with my sons.
They learned literacy skills and we laughed and snuggled when reading favorite stories or discovering new ones. When they became preteens and I was a mom chauffeur, I “read” my first audiobook. Honestly, at first, audiobooks were something I thought I wouldn’t do. I guess I felt I was cheating on the written word.
However, it’s been a game-changer, as it allows me to get through my book list faster.
We talk a lot about mom self-care and burnout in this issue. For me, self-care can be about remembering who you are and that it’s OK to immerse yourself in things you love, especially as our busy parenting life gets in the way. I think it also shows our kids that we are not just Mom and Dad, but we are people, too.
That’s why in this issue we highlight not just one, but three local mom authors who inspire us and show that anything can be accomplished.
I don’t know about you, but I am so happy for summer — not just because I am ready for the sunshine, but I also want the school year to be done.
This month, we look back and thank a few teachers who are making a difference in our children’s lives. We also look beyond May by giving tips to parents on how to get their kids engaged in summer activities.
For your little ones, starting in May we kick off our free summer event series at three different locations on Tuesdays: Little Legacy, Crocker Kids, and Fun at First & Main. Find the monthly themes for these family-friendly happenings at NortheastOhioParent.com.
With summer on the horizon, I admittedly am not looking forward to the “summer break fights” that occur between my two sons. If you have similar concerns, look at the story “Why do siblings annoy each other?”
Hopefully it helps.
While I was hoping my teens would latch onto my love of reading, they didn’t. Books don’t matter as much to them. Luckily, I have my mom. We made a pact this year to both read a certain number of books. I feel I’ve been doing pretty well, but I think she is still winning.
Happy Mother’s Day to all our mom readers, and especially to my own mom. Without her love and support, I couldn’t be the mom I am today.
