Book Report

I love to read. American Girl series growing up, Nicholas Sparks through college, baby and parenting books before Lucy. Then it stopped. Unless of course I count the endless word books, fancy nancys, olivia the pigs, llama llamas and so forth but that wasn't exactly challenging the brain. I told myself and Jameson that I just didn't have time to read. Which, as I am learning with all things that people say they don't "have time for", is just an excuse for saying it's not a priority. But I needed to make it a priority. I would actually get jealous of Jameson being able to read on his lunch break at work. Silly, I know.

So, I decided to change things up a bit in my daily routine. When I get both girls down for a nap, I used to clean, organize, do laundry, pay bills, etc. Not anymore and it feels awesome! Sure, I probably should be doing something more "productive" but being able to say I finished a book, or having something to talk to Jameson or other people about that has nothing to do with my two little ladies has been so refreshing. It is so reassuring to see something you want to work on and actually accomplish it.

In the last month and a half, I have FINISHED! five books. People always seem to be looking for something new to read and I sometimes forget what I read and loved so below are my recent reads. They are all non-fiction because the last thing I need as a mom to two little girls is more drama in my life.

1. Cooked by Michael Pollan- I have read almost all of his books and got this one the day it came out at the library... simple pleasures. It talks about how cooking our food transformed society by changing the way humans approach gathering food and eating. Specifically, he examines transforming food by fire (barbeque), water (stews and soups), air (bread), and earth (fermentation). Basically by cooking our food through these methods, we are able to take the energy our bodies previously used to convert raw food and give it to our brains to develop, evolve, and invent.
We are obsessed with all things food and eating in this house and just recently started brewing beer too so I loved this book. At times, I admit, I got a little bored as he went into all the different microbes responsible for making cheese and sauerkraut. And I am pretty sure equating home brewing with kits to making a cake from a box was slightly extreme. But, I would definitely read it again. Then bake some bread.

2. All Natural by Nathaneal Johnson- This book I loved too because it took a skeptics view towards all things natural.  I probably really needed to consider this point of view but ended up being validated in most of my choices. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on childbirth, vaccines, raw foods, and the pork industry. Actually I didn't enjoy that last one in the least and after reading it, I was sick to my stomach all day. Not even Food Inc did that to me. Throughout the book, it addresses the two opinions that people generally take; either trusting technology to better their life or leaving it to nature.

3. Start Fresh by Tyler Florence- This is a cook book broken into chapters depending on your childs stage of food, from purees to roast turkey dinners. I got some good ideas from it and would have definitely used some of the puree combinations if I could get V to eat from a spoon. My favorites to try are Grain and Berry Risotto, Sweet Potato and Blueberry Pancakes, Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese, Baked Pumpkin and Peaches, Roasted Red Pears with Ricotta, and Vegetable Chips.

4. Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Preschool Years by Elizabeth Hainstock- I have been researching a lot about this approach to education and have found some awesome ideas and principles to put in place with Lucy. The idea of teaching them to do things them self is perfect for my independent little woman. ("My do it!") This book gives a detailed background about Maria Montessori and tons of practical life experiences to recreate in the home, as well as early sensorial exercises and reading, writing, and arithmetic exercises. I can see myself going back to this book again for more ideas as Lucy gets older. Lucy's favorites so far are pouring rice/beans from one container to another and practicing with a dropper and tongs. I found a lot of the things they recommend we already were doing like setting the table, sweeping the floor, washing her own hands, etc. I am most looking forward to the Silent Game.

5. French Twist by Catherine Crawford- My sister gave me this book after she read it and it comes up in conversations almost daily. It's an American mom's account of learning to parent like the French. She interviews lots of French mothers to learn what makes their children seem so polite and respectful. Some things I totally agreed with; the importance of a family meal, manners at the table, eating real food instead of cheese sticks and chicken fingers, sitting at the table when out to dinner. Other principles, not so much; only breastfeeding for a max of 6 months, letting babies cry it out at 4 months, not needing a wipe warmer. The entire book was very enlightening as to how differently Americans parent versus the French and what it has done to our children. "If there is no blood, don't get up." I really took some pointers about teaching children that they are able to play by themselves, without the need for constant acknowledgement or praise, while adults carry on a conversation. It made it glaringly obvious that Americans work much to hard at being a buddy instead of raising their child.  At one point, the author asked how they would handle a temper tantrum in the grocery store to which the French mother was utterly confused as to why the child would even be having a tantrum... it's just not what they do. Sign me up for that please!