When I started this blog in 2016, my kids were 5 and 7, and we were right in the middle of our #RaisingReaders quest. They were learning to love books with our #bedtimereads, and learning to read at the same time. As the years went on, both kids began to develop their own reading styles (audiobook preference for him, usually Science Fiction and for her Fantasy and more recently murder mysteries? while both dabble in historical fiction). Although things slowed down, we did still try to make sure to make time for #bedtimereads.
Then the Pandemic hit. I just knew that being at home was going to provide me a ton of time to read and I was going to have all types of stories to tell, books to review, and more. However, although I went strong for a little at the beginning, I (like many other readers) actually went into a reading slump for a while. And then, when I actually was reading, it was either for work or other books for adults. When it came to the #bedtimereads, we started a couple of chapter book sequels, but didn’t get very far in either one before I abandoned them. Our bedtime reads have become few and far between. All of this meant time for blogging was moving further and further down my list.
Now even though our time reading together has slowed, I still feel that at 13 and soon to be 11, they have cultivated a reading identity, and that my goal of #raisingreaders has been accomplished, at least for the time being. We still talk about books often and I recommend books that I think they will like when I come across them. And they are still down for a humorous picture book to read before going to sleep.
With all that being said, I’ve realized that I have reached the end of my time as a blogger. There’s still a few places I will write for for the foreseeable future. And maybe sometime in the future I’ll have a different topic I’ll want to blog about, but now is not that time. I want to thank each person who ever took the time to read something that I have written, even if it was just one time. I also want to thank any author who trusted me to read and honestly review their writing, it is a gift I did not and do not take for granted. And may each of you who interact with regularly with a child, even if it is not your own, please continue to #raisereaders!
Raising Readers... 