Books

I have always loved books, for as long as I can remember. It's a way to escape into someone else's life, learn something new or just explore someone else's thoughts.

As a kid, reading was pretty much a daily occurrence (not including schoolwork). At first it was a story being read to me at bedtime. I can still remember my dad sitting on the edge of my bed reading a Disney story to me (the wicked witch in Snow White always scared me). Later it was Charlotte's Web, one story that I would read over and over.

When I got into grade 7, I started reading Sweet Valley High. I started at book one and just kept going. I couldn't put these books down. I wanted to be like Jessica, pretty and super popular, but I was more like Elizabeth I think; more into schoolwork and close friends. When my school library didn't have the next book in the series I would head to the town's library to check if they had it. If they didn't, I would wait. There was no way I could skip a book.

High school seriously cut into my reading time. I had a full course load and since I was mainly taking sciences and math, my evening were taken up by lab experiment write ups and math homework (which I was and still am terrible at). But some days I would sneak into the library for a half and hour to read. I liked the quiet and solitude.

College gave me no time to read (a 3 year, full time course and hours of homework a night) and it wasn't until working full time at a coffee shop did I get to pick up a book again.

Life moved along, sometimes having time to read, sometimes not.
Getting married and having a baby gave me no time to read until Daughter was 2, sleeping through the night and more independent. I have been working afternoons for years but I always manage to grab a few minutes before bed to read a few chapters.

My problem with reading is that when I start a book, I have to finish it quickly. I'm a fast reader but I can't leave a book for long. It's like an obsession.

We have read to S since she was a week old. It was a bedtime ritual. It still is. Now she is choosing to read herself... well more like turning the pages and reciting the words by memory. But she has her favourites and there is nothing I love more then curling up on the couch with her snuggled against me reading a book.
I hope she continues to love to read as she gets older.