In the bustling chaos of my life as a mother of five boys and an entrepreneur, one thing has remained a constant source of joy and inspiration: our shared love for books. Amidst the whirlwind of activities, work responsibilities, and raising a lively household, fostering a deep and abiding affection for reading has become one of my most cherished accomplishments. In this blog post, I want to share how I’ve nurtured this love for books in my five boys and how our busy lifestyle actually made it EASIER for them to read more.
I Started Their Reading Journey Early
I introduced MJ, my first born, to the world of books from the day he was born. He would often nap on my stomach as I read silently and snuggled him; it was pure heaven! So, as he grew, he too wanted a book in his hand.
Even before he could speak, we would spend hours cuddling with picture books and exploring the pages together. He began to memorize the stories, turn the pages himself and would even laugh before I read the funny parts. To MJ, a book was just as fun as a movie, just as exciting as a toy and just as comforting as a blanket. From the Carter’s catalogue that came in the mail, to board books and everything in between, he always had a book close by and this laid the foundation for curiosity and love for reading for all of the boys.
I Made Reading Easy
In general, kids won’t do anything if it’s too hard. A toy is on a top shelf, they forget about it. If the hamper is too hard to open, they leave their clothes on the floor. And the same goes for reading. If it’s easier to grab a toy, or turn on the TV, they will opt for those activities over a book.
So, we have turned our playroom into a fun space with toys but also with a treasure trove of books. We have a 6ft tall bookshelf completed filled with kids’ books for them to read. The top shelves are lined with chapter books for MJ and now Jasper is also reaching for them. The middle shelves are full of early readers, comic books and Matthew and Mateo’s favorite stories. And now Jack has his own two shelves at the bottom that are full of board books, life the flap, and every Elmo or Cocomelon story you can find.
Having easy access to the books they love, and knowing right where to find them, has encouraged the boys to develop their love of reading by letting them explore what captivates them.
I Created a Reading Routine
Now I know what you’re thinking, how could I add a 30-minute time slot to do our day just for reading? Between busy schedules, driving here and there and boys who just want to go play, who has time for that? And what boys would actually sit and read when there are toys to be played with and friends to be made?
This is exactly the genius in what we do! If we are loading up to head to a new park, out to dinner, or off on a road trip, the boys know the routine: grab a book for the ride! Going on a plane ride? Better bring two books just in case you finish one! And now, instead of constantly hearing, “Are we there yet?” I often have to tell the boys twice to put down their books and get out of the car since they are so enthralled in the pages!
When we’ve had a long day or weekend and the “littles” need a nap, the “bigs” also have rest time to keep things quiet and for them to recharge as well. Because we limit screens, that’s pretty limiting on what they can do, so it’s a great opportunity for family reading time! We all, Mama and Papi included, cuddle up on the couch with our blankets and dive into our latest book and read together as a family. While we may not be talking, or even hearing each other’s voices, it still creates a feeling of togetherness in the silence.
By building reading into our routine, it is not seen as something that we have to do, it is now something we get to do during our day.
I Made Reading a Part of Our Life
As an entrepreneur, a mother, and a lifelong reader, I’ve learned so much in the thousands of pages I’ve read. I have consistently demonstrated my own love for reading and it has shown them that reading is a lifelong adventure that is both fun and rewarding. Through reading together, discussions, and a home filled with books, we’ve created an environment where reading is not just a hobby, but cherished time spent together.
As they grow, I look forward to witnessing how their passion for books will continue to shape their worldviews, ignite their imaginations, and provide a lifelong source of inspiration!