Getting in some quiet time can seem like a challenge especially when you have demanding schedules to juggle and have children to take care of. I can admit that when I was a child my parents did not do a good job in encouraging me to read. As a parent, I vowed that I would change that with my children. The hardest part of encouraging your children to read and you as a parent not being able to do the same can leave you with an overwhelming feeling that you are not leading by example. In my home, I incorporated a rule that when planning for our family vacations such as Spring Break, Mid-Winter Break, Winter Break or that wonderful long Summer Break other than purchasing all of the must-haves essentials to make our vacations memorable we also needed to pick up a new book.
There are so many benefits to reading not only to your children but also just reading in general for yourself. For me personally, reading provides a forced quiet time where I can escape from the daily tasks and just reenergize myself. Regardless of your age reading can help you continue to develop your vocabulary and comprehension skills. It also allows your brain to be more creative that will help you to see things more clearly when we are thinking outside of the box.
Here are some of my must-have summer reading books for this summer!
The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
Here’s to Us by Elin Hilderbrand
In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume