War Novels & Toddler Kisses
I’ve never been much of a reader- always more of a pen to the paper kind of girl. In my twenties I engulfed myself in an embarrassing amount of self-help books like most women do at that age.
It’s funny- my childhood was a bit of a mess and I knew the type of person I didn’t want to become as an adult. I wasn’t sure how to actually become that person so I assumed I could find her within the confines of every self help book I could get my hands on. I learned a lot of useful things and an equal amount of garbage- c'est la vie. I’m glad that season of my life is over.
Once I hit 30 I kind of stopped reading all together. I’ve stayed in this reading(less) life for the last five years. That is until about a month ago. Now I’m a proud literature buff. Something I’ve yearned for, but always too lazy to pick up. For the last five years I’ve been too quick to pick up my phone for an hour of scrolling which never really satisfied my needs.
Having children really does change you.
When we had our son Mayne last year I knew I had to put my phone down. I didn’t want him to grow up in a household where people viewed screens as a priority. I never wanted him to think my phone was more important than him because I was in an hour long instagram reel scrolling session instead of cherishing the moment with him.
I want Mayne to value living in the moment- how could I teach him those values while trapped in a doom scrolling false dopamine session every day. Since I stay home with him I knew I needed to find a hobby. Something to do with my hands and something to keep my mind preoccupied that didn’t include a screen while he was playing.
I started crocheting a few months ago- that covered my hand hobby. Then I fell into reading historical fiction novels and I’M HOOKED i tell you! Currently in a deep dive of World War II fiction and it’s pulled me in deep. Mayne can play in his playroom while I lay on the floor reading war novels. He’ll occasionally swoop over for a drive by cuddle or slobbery toddler kiss before diving back into his ball pit. What a beautiful life this season has become.
