A Heart For Home

SO Much Time and So Few Books

So many books to read and not enough time! That was my DD's (14) motto. It is now, not enough books, too much time. She absolutely loves having a book in her hand at all times. The problem is she has read every decent book in the 2 libraries that we visit, literally ( No pun intended.). She also has an extensive home library with countless books that she has read. Most of them are historical fiction, with a few mystery books.

Here we are on our second week out of school and she is begging me to get her more books. Here's the problem, she will read a whole series within a week. We are talking upwards to 7 books in one week. I have a hard time keeping up with her. Finding the books is altogether another story.

She found a new series when we went to the Homeschool Conference 2 weeks ago. I am so glad that she did. I just need to get online and purchase the series for her. I have told her that she will just have to SLOW down a bit and enjoy the book without rushing through it. She sometimes forgets that we are on a budget in this house and that books aren't always in that budget. (Try telling that to a young lady who would spend her life outside in the woods reading if her Mama would only let her.)

Now her brother (9) is fast on the heels of his sister. He purchased several books at the conference for himself, and is fast approaching the end of that stack as well as the ones I bought him. I can say that he being only 9, has not gone through the books at the library as his sister has. Given time I am sure that he will catch up soon.)

This summer is already turning out to be an educational one, even though the kids don't see it that way. Isn't it absolutely beautiful to see a child sitting down to read? It really is a grand thing  to observe, when you know that what they are reading is educational and they think it is just a good story?

Oh, the joys of being young in the summer time. To God be the glory for ALL that He allows us to do every day!

Bless all who pass this way!

Amanda <><
II Corinthians 5:7

Untitled Comment

{ 02:44 , Tuesday, June 3, 2008 } { Posted by melaniedawn }

Are you sure she isn't MY daughter? LOL All I wanted to do during summer break growing up was READ!!!
Melanie

Inter-library loan

{ 11:54 , Tuesday, June 10, 2008 } { Posted by lindseyinal }

Have you tried inter-library loan? We have to pay $25 a year to use the library in the neighboring state to us (much closer than our "local" library) but it also entitles us to all of the books in the library *system* all over the state. I can get into the catalog online and order virtually anything I can think of.

Ask at your libraries and see if you can't do the same. At the very least the librarians should be able to order books from other branches for you.

Perhaps (and I say this as a voracious reader myself) you and your daughter can come up with some sort of project or some skill for her to work on this summer instead of spending so much time reading. Not that there is anything wrong with reading but a craft or skill can be pleasurable and useful throughout her life and she can spend more time with the family, actually communicating, instead of always having "her nose in a book" (as my family always referred to me :)) Does she know how to knit or crochet or embroider or cross stitch or sew? All of those things are fairly low overhead and time-consuming but very enjoyable. Maybe she could learn more cooking.

Does she read much non-fiction? I'm sure there's a lot she could learn about all sorts of things. I had a hard time reading non-fiction when I went to college because I had always immersed myself in novels (not trashy ones, but not always challenging either) but upon making the effort to understand and enjoy non-fiction, I was really glad that I was required to do so.

Please know that I am not criticizing your girl's love of reading AT ALL. I also love to read but there are times now that I wish I had spent more time doing and less time reading as a young girl. I also frequently wish that I had read more really good books instead of so much "pure pleasure" reading. Maybe a list of 100 great books would be good for her to tackle. I really and truly wish someone had taken me in hand and helped me choose challenging books when I was younger. I am enjoying them now but I wish I had gotten a good start sooner.

Blessings and best wishes for a fruitful summer!!