Confession time.
I've always thought of homeschooling mommas as brainiacs in denim jumpers leading their homes something like the Von Trapp children when they marched in to the whistle, stepping forward and shouting out their names on cue. Since joining their ranks however, I've realized that is not at all the case, although there are days I long for that whistle.
I have to tell you that they are an impressive group of ladies. However, sometimes after spending time with them, I realize my upbringing was....well, just different.
Growing up, I loved to read. Other than assignments for school none of my reading could be classified as literature. I was more the Sweet Valley High and Danielle Steele type reader.
After college, I read more mysteries like James Patterson or Patricia Cornwell.
After children, it was more like Goodnight Moon or whatever magazine I could read at a quick clip before falling asleep.
Then last summer, I decided to be more deliberate with reading. To actually read real, grown up books just for me. That's right. I'm selfish like that.
I realized how much I do love reading. I've even gone high tech redneck with my Kindle that I keep tucked in my purse.
Over the past couple of weeks, I've been trying to come up with a reading list for this year. I have a few choices from the library and more than a few books that I bought over the past years and never got around to actually reading. (Anyone else have this problem?)
So without any further ramblings, here's my big list for 2012.
January: One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy)
February: The Money Saving Mom's Budget
The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers
March: The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love
The Backyard Homestead
April: Baked: New Frontiers in Baking
All In Good Time: When to Save, Stock Up, and Schedule Everything for Your Home
May: When Crickets Cry
Quitter
June: Bringing Up Boys
The Hobbit
July: The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner: Easy Family Meals for Every Day of the Week
Pride and Prejudice
August: Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables
September: Little Women (Unabridged Classics)
October: EntreLeadership
November: Don't Make Me Come Up There!: Quiet Moments for Busy Moms
December: Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
I'm trying to be realistic and only planning on one book a month once canning season and school start. Each book on the list is one that I'm excited to read, including a couple from my favorite bloggers.
I'll share my thoughts on them with you as I go.
All this talk about books is making me think it's a great day to light the fireplace and curl up on the couch with the boys for reading day.
And that's just what we'll do.
i was totally a "Sweet Valley" reader, "Babysitters Club" reader, and as I got older, I read Danielle Steele as well. I love to read. Altho now more non-fiction than fiction. And today is a good reading day. If it wasn't so cold out I'd take it as a library day...but it is and thankfully Liam's library is quite stocked here at home! Enjoy your "warm by the fire" reading day!
ReplyDeleteYay! This is exciting. :) I just blogged about keeping track of reading this year-- I regret that I didn't keep better track last year. I'm trying to get through two books a month. I read a LOT of fiction, though, and the occasional non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteGREAT list-thanks for leaving your link on my list! I have so many of these on my to-read-evetually list as well. Backyard Homestead has been on my Amazon wishlist for a while. I have Pride and Rejudice on my Kindle-actually you can get many Jane Austen novels for free on the Kindle. I bought my hubby EntreLeadership for our anniversary and he is really enjoying it. I also have Don't Make Me Come Up There on the Kindle. I really want to read Quitter and Bringing Up Boys as well. Every time one of my boys (I have 3) does something particularly ornery I promise myself I am going to get that book lol! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you ... I was an avid reader, but not of quality literature. Now that I have a kindle, though, I always have something different at my figertips. I'm trying to get back to some classics, though, so I can instill a love of them in my kiddos.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson? Hands down THE best book I've read since deciding to homeschool (and I've read dozens!). And then anything by Sally Clarkson (love the Mission of Motherhood among others!).
I'm looking forward to reading the Money Saving Mom's Budget next month, too.
Have enjoyed peeking through your blog; glad you stopped by Graceful Abandon so I could find you to visit. Looking forward to coming back!
I've heard nothing but great things about Sally Clarkson. I'm making a mental note to add that to the list if I have time. Thanks.
ReplyDelete