A couple years ago I joined a few friends at a book club in the hopes of getting myself in the habit of reading more. It was a great excuse to hang out with some new friends and discuss books that I might not have read otherwise. With wine, of course. But since most of these books were not something I would have chosen myself, I wasn’t eager to purchase them. So, after living in Baton Rouge for half a decade, I finally marched into the library and got myself a card.
Fast forward to maternity leave with kiddo number two. The library was an easy 15 minute walk from our house, the perfect distance to get myself moving after having a baby. I’d never taken much notice of everything they had to offer, but with endless hours at home with a newborn, I had time to peruse. All of the movies! Magazines! Cookbooks! It became almost a daily habit to walk there, grab a new movie and take a break in the AC, then walk on home. The perfect escape for mom and an easy stroller nap for baby. Win, win.
Now, my son loves his bedtime stories. I enjoy reading to him, but sometimes that Dr. Seuss book gets on repeat a few too many times. A couple new books from the library added to the mix regularly helps keep it exciting for both of us. I try to keep the books on theme with what he’s doing in school or related to the next holiday coming up. Search the catalog for titles, reserve for pickup, then grab them at the drive-up on my way home. It couldn’t be simpler.
With two kids now, I haven’t found much time to attend a book club gathering. And with limited time, I’ve kept my reading selections to books that really interest me. But that book club started a whole new habit with the library that has benefited all of us. Hopefully it will carry on through the years and help instill a love of reading for the little ones too.
