Blessing and a Curse
In February, it only seems fitting that we write about things we love. I love words and books and I especially love reading. And recently, I have realized that my love of reading is a blessing as well as a curse.
As far back as I can remember, I loved to read. My parents are readers and our house had a variety of magazines, books and newspapers at any point. I was read to, had my own books in my room and my parents made time to take me to the library as well as bookstores on a regular basis. Being immersed in a reading culture helped me see reading as something people did everyday not just for school, but as a natural part of life.
As an adult, I have cultivated this love of reading by making it part of my everyday work in schools and with teachers. I enjoy sharing ideas about books, considering the big ideas of writers, discussing reading pedagogy and learning what new titles are catching the attention of students. I have worked to pass on this passion to my own children who are now falling in love with reading themselves.
The bad part is this: sometimes I want to read instead of doing other things. Like clean up the kitchen or talk to other people.
Those of you who are readers know what I am talking about. I get all immersed in a book or article and someone wants to chat or ask a question. Sometimes the people who want to chat or ask questions are people who really do need me. Like kids. The ones I gave birth to. So I have to stop mid-sentence and abruptly jump back into reality. This is the hard part: quickly switching from the place my mind wandered back to the place where my physical body lives. I can do it, I just don’t always like it.
The evolution of technology has also transformed my love of reading into a (sometimes) curse. The smart phone, tablet, and laptop have made it possible to read without actually having a book! The urge to digest information or escape into an amazing plot can always be met. There is information everywhere and holding it in my hand in the early morning hours so I can read the headlines is something I never envisioned as a small child. Who knew it would be possible to learn about foreign policy, see a new recipe for kitchen soup, know what time it is going to rain, and learn what my college roommate ate for dinner all before the sun comes up? Before you know it your hand is falling asleep and you realize you just lost an hour of your life.
Despite having the Reading Curse I will continue to promote a love of all things related to reading. I love talking to my kids about books I adored as a child and have them share the same passions. I also never tire of hearing stories from teachers about how they promote a love of reading, see growth in their readers, and find resources to engage and motivate students. Behind the scenes I will continue to plug away at my own issues of getting lost in a book and devouring the information on the internet. I will try not to snarl at people who talk to me while I am reading and I will work really hard not to scour the internet at all hours of the morning. Maybe there is a self-help book or article for people who have the Reading Curse.
I bet I can read about it.
