Notes on Parenting & Book Club
September 25, 2008 by Rachel
Filed under This Reading Life
Last night I went to a small book club that I participate in. It’s got three members, and life often gets in the way of our meeting, so we choose a book and we don’t discuss as regularly as we could. Last night we met for the first time since, I think, July. We discussed Love Walked In, which I loved (you can read my entries about de los Santos’s work here).
I had to bring The Bug to book club since he is going through a phase of deep separation anxiety. He’s 20 months old, and it’s never been as bad as it has been in the past couple of weeks. I could tell you what I think traumatized him, but let’s save that for another post. We were meeting at Melissa’s house, and since Hannah is almost the same age as Matthew, and they play together well, I brought him along.
You probably guessed that it was a bit chaotic and not nearly enough booking got done. We had a few laughs- particularly at Matthew chasing Hannah to try and kiss her. We had several unexplained crying bouts too. But mostly, we kind of rushed through the questions to get them over with and the kids to bed.
I think that reading is like this since becoming a parent. I read and discuss in small doses and rush around in larger ones. I’m curious as to how the rest of you manage your reading and intellectual lives and parenting too.Leave a comment and share with me!
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Ian gets like that when he’s tired. He has to be in my arms, not just near me. It’s cute and I love cuddlying with him, but he doesn’t want to cuddle, he wants to play, but he has to do it in my arms. Not a fun place to be. Thankfully, we haven’t gone through the separation anxiety yet and I’m really hoping we don’t.
As for reading, I think it’s different when your only job is staying home and concentrating on the kid. Aren’t you still working one job? Usually, I’ll pick up a book when Ian goes off and plays on his own. There are times when he just wants to play on his own, whether it’s outside or indoors. During these times, I pick up a book and read while keeping an eye on him. Otherwise, the only chance I get is when he’s sleeping and that’s usually reserved for the big boy.
I do things in pockets now, I find. We have a 16 month old boy, and I work fulltime as well; on second shift from 4-12. So my reading “pocket” is an hour or so at 1am. It’s not as much as I would like, but it’s waaaaaaay better than nothing.
@Jackie: Yeah, I don’t know what the issue is the last couple of weeks. It’s very unlike him. I’m just rolling with it, and trying to work in personal time in small snatches. Usually it’s a few minutes a night before bed. Naps… what are those? LOL!
@Maree: I didn’t know you had a little guy! That’s great! You’re right, an hour is better than nothing, and I agree about the pockets of time. How has it been managing 2nd shift work and your little one’s schedule?
I can’t read while Patrick is up _ he tries to take the book off me. Hubby and I work different shifts, so we’re both home during the day. It’s tiring, but soooo worthwhile.
And we just … do it. I don’t know how, but I don’t want to examine it too closely, in case I jinx it!