Books serve as an important part of my life. They are an amazing inspiration for life, especially if you are going though a hard time. They can quench your thirst for excitement during a dry spell and respectfully distract you in times of emotional overwhelming and life obstacles.
One of my fondest memories growing up was from the 5th grade. My teacher, Mrs. Matthews, used to read to us after lunch. She read about a Chapter per day of whatever we were reading at the time. Consequently, we were able to blow through several books during the course of the school year. It felt so special to have someone take the time to read for us, no expectations attached.
We could do whatever we wanted during this time as long as we were quiet so everyone could be allowed to hear. My friends and I would often doodle on scraps of paper, exchanging them and creating long chains of scrap art down the side of our desk. My favorite thing to doodle became stars, and I would draw them everywhere, seeing how I could perfect their shape. Sometimes, I would just lay my head on my arms on my desk, close my eyes and rest. No matter what we were doing with our hands, we were still listening to the story. This is one of my fondest memories with books as a child.
I hope to continue this love of books with my children as well. Years ago we adopted the one chapter a night in our home. My children might lay in their beds, play with legos or puzzles, or doodle in their own journals and scraps of paper. Whatever they choose to do, this is still a time for listening and being exposed to these stories of our times. I hope I can instill in them a love of books and reading that I have developed.