I know it is true what they say, multitasking is never really productive. Or so says Forbes magazine and Stanford University.

It doesn’t stop me from trying. 

I have found while creative think work does not lend itself to multitasking, some adulting tasks pair quite well together. One of my greatest joys in life is figuring out the perfect combination of all of my goals in one simple step. 

One afternoon last spring I think I found just the right activity that was the trifecta of task completion, parenting, adulting and self care in one. Can you even imagine the joy of this discovery??!!

Let’s say this is your typical daily to-do list:

1. Declutter

2. Plan a fun and educational activity for the growing children

3. Exercise

4. Engage with Community

On most given days, I can usually check off at least one of these. Good days might include two. A really great pat-yourself-on-the-back kind of day would include three. But all four? That’s nonsense!

Unless…

I call it the Little Library Crawl.

Here is how it works.

**Wait, before I go on, do you know what a Little Free Library is? They are fantastic and adorable and on my wish list for our new home. Read all about it here if you don’t know what I am referring to.**

Step One. Gather all the books in your home that you are either done reading, sick of reading, or never really wanted to read in the first place. I know, I know, filling your home with books is a good thing. But come on, everyone knows clearing out your book shelves gives you permission to buy more. Let’s make room!

Step Two. Convince the children we are going on a scavenger hunt in the neighborhood in search of all of the little libraries. Tell them we are going to be the Library Fairies and fill each of the libraries we find with a few of the books. Kids love being sneaky and they love surprises so they will think this is AWESOME! You are brilliant. You can even make it a learning lesson telling them to take out three books at a time, find all the yellow books, etc. Even more brilliant.

Step Three. Load up the kids in the double stroller, upload your favorite podcast or playlist, and hit the pavement. Challenge yourself to jog, or speed walk, or whatever who cares just move your feet in between each stop. You have heard me talk about it before, but finding every possible creative way to move each day is good for your heart and your sole. Just move, whatever way you choose. Winning.

Step Four. As you make your way around your neighborhood, you’ll find it feels really good to be a part of your community. The mission of little free libraries in the first place was to build community and encourage literacy. Look for your neighbors and say hi. Meeting the neighbors is really challenging for an introvert like myself. But having an excuse like a book exchange makes it easier to break the ice. 

Not sure where the little free libraries are in your town? Check out this map. We had a ton in our Austin neighborhood and even more in our Minneapolis neighborhood. If you don’t, you could also go on a thrift store drop or maybe local community centers are accepting book donations. Of course not nearly as charming of an adventure, but important none the less. 

Declutter, parenting, exercise, and community connection all in one easy afternoon activity. And we had fun, which is no small task at cranky o'clock, let me tell you. Hurray for that!

Multitasking at its finest. Take that Standford University.

Go on a Little Free Library Crawl of your own and tell me how it goes!

It's in the early morning still working on that first cup of coffee hours with four snug in one bed (We should have gotten a King size.)

It's in that in between time when magically we are ready to go and still have 5 more minutes to spare. 

It's in the answer to "can we watch another show?"  

It's in the tension of the early evening when dinner is not quite on the table but a good hangry distraction is in high demand, for everyone's sanity.   

It's in the final moments before saying goodnight, the ritual we have practiced since they were each tiny babes, one last story to sweeten your dreams

This is what reading is for us. It's woven so tightly in the moments of our day. It's a vital distraction and a place for connection. I can't imagine what the day would look like without our books. 

This is why book reading to my children is not just about raising good readers, teaching vocabulary, sharing new perspectives. The reading becomes as much for me as it is for them. The books we choose matter to ME. Yes, they would possibly be content reading the same two stories over and over and over again. Sometimes I concede. But as often as I can, I pick out books that inspire ME, teach ME, delight ME. I'm just hoping they pick up a little bit as they go along.  

Therefore, the books I am highlighting today are not necessarily kid chosen. These are titles you can go to when you are looking for a particular story in your life. It's okay. I give you permission. Be selfish. Literature is available to all. 

When you want to subtly communicate to your children that you need a little personal space…

Leave Me Alone by Vera Brosgol

I resonated so much with this grandma. Sometimes you have to climb all the way up to Mars just to get some peace and quiet to do your creative work.

When you feel like you have an important story to tell and you can’t find anyone to listen…

Bear has a Story to Tell by Phillip Stead

And sometimes, when you are doing that creative work, you need to remember to be patient and trust your friends will hear your story when it is time.

When you have want to learn how to see the beauty and magic in your current world view…

Beyond the Pond by Joseph Kuefler

Come for the stunning artwork, stay for the message at the very end of the book.

When you live in a world where everyone is hustling and you just want to appreciate the slow life…

“Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” Said the Sloth by Eric Carle

I love the sloth. My new favorite animal. He is slow and he is proud of it. Be the sloth. New motto.

When you want to remind your children that you once lived a really cool life…

My Dad Used to be So Cool by Keith Negley

We may not have all been a singer in a rock band like the dad in this story, but we all do feel like we were cool once upon a time, and we want these offspring to know it!

When you want to appreciate the beauty and suspense of a snow day…

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman

I know many are still battling the snow that just won’t quit, but meanwhile I get lost in all of the snowy books longing for that cozy quiet feeling it brings (while I sit on the patio enjoying a gorgeous and sunny spring afternoon. Hashtag Texas Living Problems)

When you want to forget about all that snow and be reminded that spring comes again…

Curious Garden by Peter Brown

If you have been to the Highline in New York City or the 606 in Chicago, you will appreciate this illustrated depiction of these amazing urban gardens. And if not, you will want to plan a visit.

When you feel like you are too small to make a big impact on the world…

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld

A little cloud reminded me I sometimes need to think small about my efforts. Small can be important too.

When You want to understand how to bring in more nuance into your political discussions…

A Tale of Two Beasts by Fiona Roberton

And

Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson

Both are great stories about two different perspectives on the same story and how we can learn to see each other and appreciate that. Perhaps I should send a few copies to Washington?

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You are sure to find something in this list you can both agree upon. What do you love reading with the small people in your life?

If February and March could tell a story, it would be the months of a 100 stories. Nearly. Because these last two months have been all about books. Reading the books. Discovering the books to read. Sharing the books.

I didn’t get much else accomplished.

Not true. I take that sentence back. And probably could have just deleted it altogether but I like to show my struggles, and recognizing the true work in the mundane is a struggle for me.

These last two months have left my brain and heart a little unsteady. Unexpected previous work coming back to demand my attention (A deposition! Like Law and Order come to life! Not really. Slight exaggeration.) Future planning (Kindergarten! Already?! How?!) Current planning (It’s Lenten season in the ministry world. Hold on to your hat. We’re doing all of the things.) Many demands in a variety of directions. Moments that felt like a really bad combination of hustle and inability to control. I don’t like hustle. And I like control. So you can see why I felt a little derailed.

My coping mechanism this month? Books. The stories of others. The calm and inviting words spoken through pages and pages of characters. For me it was to calm my mind before bed reading, and before anyone awakes reading, and quick they are entertained how about one more chapter reading, and I could clean the kitchen or I could read this book during naptime reading. For them it was good morning let’s all pile into bed and read this stack of books reading, and another train book reading, and another Fancy Nancy book reading, and can I watch a show, NO? ok, fine will you read me a book reading, and PLEASE will you read me this train/Fancy Nancy book just ONE more time reading.

I have zero regrets.

Because within those words and those characters, there are stories for all of us. Messages to carry in our hearts, lessons to write in permanent marker on the cracks of our brain, heroes to call upon in the moments in our lives that feel anxious and unpredictable. Or at the very least, it is a great story to take us away for just a moment. I don’t believe escape is running away from our lives. I believe it gives us a chance to step away from the chaos and let the dust settle a bit. Let a book carry you more gently off to sleep. It always looks better in the morning.

At this time I want to share the books I read for me, and then I’ll share the books for the kids in a later post. I just can’t limit myself this go round.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

I challenged myself to read one book off my own shelf in February. I polled the audience, but I think I knew I needed to begin with this one. It was given to me by my Aunt a few years book with the introduction of one of the best books she ever read. I have started it and put it down a number of times because the writing is thick, as if written in another time but actually a current novel. I was determined to finish it this time, especially because I knew many people had mentioned not getting through it and I didn’t want to be one of those people. When I found myself struggling to read it at night, I decided to switch to audio. This was such a good lesson in learning that if a book isn't catching me in paper, if I really want to give it a go, I should try if listening to the words help bring the story to life. In this case, I’m so glad I did.

The story is told from the perspective of two different people, a snarky and secretly well-read middle aged widow working as a concierge in a fancy apartment in Paris contrasted to a precocious  twelve year old girl living in that apartment, who has decided she is over the mediocrity of the people in her world and will end her life on her thirteenth birthday. Because the book switches back and forth between these two narrators, hearing the book read from two different readers was so helpful. And there were pieces of writing that took my breath away. You know that feeling when you are watching a musical and the climax of a song is so powerful and beautifully sung that it just brings you to instant tears? (Just me?) That is what I found about passages in this book. I would suddenly find myself caught in a choke of tears by the elegantly crafted prose. And then the next moment there would be a snarky comment that would make me chuckle. The writing in this book was enough to keep me going and wanting more. I now think I want to go back and reread the words so I can highlight the lines that caught my breath. Please give this one a try. Do the audio. You will be so glad you did. Better yet, pick it for book club if you can convince your group to try something a little bit challenging.

The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress

Quite the shift in topics, this next book was so much fun to read. If you like the era of Great Gatsby, and you like the narrator shifts and intertwining stories of Liane Moriarty, and you like a good mystery and you  love strong female characters, than pick up this book. Such a fun and quick read for me. Basically a man goes missing and the story is told from three different women in his life and how their stories entangle. There was a plot twist, and I love a good plot twist. 

I Let You Go

Speaking of plot twists, this book has one as well. You think you know what the book is about from the first page, a little boy is hit by a car. A mother escapes her life to grieve the horrible accident. But there is so much more to this book. I thought the death of a little boy might be too much to handle as a mom. It wasn’t because there are other deeper levels to unpack, so don’t let that scare you away. I read this one in about a 24 hour period. I went out to go shopping (Target alone! The greatest luxury for a mom!) and meet a friend for drinks I ended up sitting in my car in the parking lot of Target for almost 2 hours because I couldn’t put it down, then finished it late into the night. Can’t recommend it enough.

The Dinner

Can someone please read this so we can talk about it? I think I might recommend it to my book club for that very reason. Another can’t put down fiction book for me because I needed to know what happened. Essentially the story takes place in the span of one dinner between two couples. You find out as the story progresses that something happened with each of their children and they are attempting to help resolve this issue. But within that there is some fantastic character psychosis outlined as well as the struggling idea about what parents might do to save the reputation of their child. As I started to describe it more to Mike it sounded weird and creepy. But really, it’s very well done, sarcastic in many ways, and left me wanting to talk about it. So read it and let’s chat!

P.S. As I was linking this book to Amazon I discovered there is a movie of the book available in Prime. That might be on my weekend list.

Essentialism

This book is all over the place for productivity and business readers alike so I won’t go into too much description. Check this post out for more details. I finished it after Mike, and I think I liked it more than he did. He thought it was repetitive and not anything he hadn’t heard before. I felt that even in my non-business world I could take the important parts into my own personal life. This was a library read but I think I want to buy my own copy so I can reference it often when I need reminders about how to say no.

The Gnome Project

This was a very random find that I heard mention in passing on a podcast and then happened to see on the end cap at the library. A very quick read about a women who spent a whole year making little felt gnomes every single day. I love creative challenges like this and her insights were fun, especially when you learn she did this amidst probably one of the busiest times of her life, between moving and solo parenting for a few months. Reminders that creativity doesn’t have to be big, and sometimes it can save us in the midst of chaos.

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There were a few others read throughout these two months but I want to save them for their own posts. You can check out all of my reads from 2017 in my Goodreads account.

I have a whole list of various book themed posts such as what the kids have me reading, where I get my book recommendations, Little Free Libraries and more. If I can get my act together I just might make next week book week.

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading! Tell me, what is on your night stand lately?