What to Read in the Car While Waiting for Kids

This week’s What to Read Wednesday recommends are comin’ atcha on a Friday since this week our household was verily bowled over by an early stomach flu.

Ugh, and just as we were gaining momentum on our back-to-school schedule! Still, we managed to squeeze in plenty of reading between body aches, hot baths, and laundering of sheets. On days when not much else is accomplished we, at the minimum, always read.

This wasn’t always the case. I’ve shared before that I’ve always been a bookworm, but there was a season when I struggled to find slivers of quiet in the margins. Finishing my weekly Bible study was a challenge, reading for pleasure a rarity. But I’m no longer changing diapers and nursing and chasing tots, perpetual playground shadow preventing bump, bruise, or bad-guy… I’m the mom on the periphery: on the park bench, in the car, in the waiting room, on the sidelines; reading.

I’m in a new season of life now– less camp counselor and more chauffeur. My kids have hobbies, interests, and lives all their own; I’m really just along for [facilitating] the ride. Consequently, as they discover their identities, I’m rediscovering my own. And I’m a reader.

e.g. Where I’m finding time to read these days:

+ 3 hours weekly during sessions of  speech therapy

+ 1 hour during choir

+ 5.5 hours during theatre rehearsals

+ 1 hour every other week during science co-op

+ unknown hours wherein my kids are ride bikes unsupervised (gasp!) or text their friends or watch makeup tutorials on Youtube

What I’m reading currently:

Whiskey in a Teacup – Reese Witherspoon’s ballad to Southern living came out this week and I was first in line at the library. A fun, breezy read as sugary as sweet-tea, chock full of classic southern truisms, tips, and recipes.

There There by Tommy Orange – An eye-opening novel giving voice to the modern Native American experience from several vantage points all interwoven together like a patchwork quilt.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (aloud to the kids*) – Book two of the delightful series, we are loving this sweet family’s sequel and have put all subsequent volumes on hold at the library to devour together.

Cozy Minimalist Home – I’m catching this one in tidbits as I await the official release (Oct. 3rd!), it comes with a free online course when you pre-order! #BatedBreath

*A tip for sneaking more reading into a full schedule: I never feel bad hand selecting family read-alouds based on my own preference… if I don’t want to read something, I don’t; I simply encourage the kids to read it solo, instead. I choose books I’m interested in, classics I might’ve missed in my own youth, or new YA lit that catches my attention. 

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Click here to see a complete list of our What to Read Wednesday book topics. This is a great resource for planning themed unit studies or for encouraging your child’s current interests!