I used to read.
No. I used to LOVE reading.
No wait… I’ll just say it: I used to be a reading addict.
It’s true! Once upon a time I was young and “in love” with my books.
You Know You’re a Reading Addict When…
Really, truly… I have proof – proof of my obsession with books.
- As a teenager, more often then not, I was the one at 4 a.m. reading with a flashlight under my covers because I HAD to finish a book.
- I was also the one who rarely took my face out of a book on long family drives.
- In fact, I was many times the one leaving the library (after 2 hours of searching) with a whopping 15 books only to return to the library in less than two weeks time for 15 more.
Believe me when I say, I was a reading addict (who quite possibly needed an intervention?)
It started out with the Babysitters Club. It gained momentum with Sweet Valley High. Until ultimately it became a full blown fixation after Victoria Holt (a.k.a. Jean Plaidy, Philipa Carr, Eleanor Hibbert)
Then, later in life I discovered fantasy. And my obsession grew. I was drawn in by Robert Jordan and swept away by Harry Potter.
Simply said, I loved to read and found it nearly impossible to start any book and not finish it.
Which is why it is impossibly hard for me to believe that I now rarely pick up a book. Because, I was addicted to reading… that was until my oldest daughter was born.
The Demise of an Addiction
There is nothing like having a kid or two (or three) to put a damper on any addiction.
In the beginning, I tried hard to feed my reading obsession. Yet slowly but surely, motherhood was throwing more and more drag-down, knock-out punches at my reading compulsion.
- It got harder to find new, good books (spending time in a quiet library in search of the perfect read just wasn’t as appealing with a fussy baby in tow)
- It became difficult to find the time to read (because as babies become toddlers they also become more mobile and “accident” prone – leaving momma with rarely a still moment)
- And it was increasingly problematic to keep my eyes open – as good as a book might be (uninterrupted sleep time is often a rare and “hot commodity” in my home)
My addiction had finally met its match in Motherhood.
And I mourned my loss. In fact I was often in a state of denial.
I’d buy books and put them on my “to read” shelf that never got read.
I’d ask for books as presents (that would barely leave the gift bag).
I even went as far as to “lower” my reading standards to just a parenting magazine or two.
But, eventually even the magazines (Heck! Even the catalogs!) didn’t get read.
(And sorry folks, but baby board books don’t count – although I do love a good Sandra Boynton book!)
I’d look at other moms, and wonder how they did it. How were they able to feed their own reading addiction? Why couldn’t I work in even just one book a month?
The Momentary Relapses
Occasionally I have “suffered” momentary relapses. Once, during a “nesting period” right before my 3rd child was born I picked up the Twilight series* and read all 4 gigantic books in just 6 days.
* OK, yes – the cat is out of the bag. YES! I’ve read the entire Twilight series not once but twice!
But these short-lived regressions became further and further in-between. Because after feeding my reading addiction, I am often left with the “over-stuffed” feeling of guilt. (You know, the guilt of having your nose glued to a book and not paying a lick of attention to your 3 kids, dog, husband, house rat, fly, whomever!?!)
There’s nothing like having a kid or two (or three) to put a damper on a momentary reading addiction relapse.
So I gave up. I gave in. And I began to realize that the years-old pile of books that I wanted to read may just never get read.
I gave in, but kept hope. Hope that some day, (when my kids got older, when I have more time, when I work less, when I’m retired???) I would be able to read again.
And I really thought: That. Was. It.
Over.
Finished.
Gone.
I may never get my reading “groove” back. Goodbye dusty book shelves. Adios never-read parenting magazines. Au Revoir guilt…
Goodbye… that was… Until I met: >>> My Google Reader
The Rebirth of an Obsession
Goodbye books. Hello Blogs!
And she’s back! Yep… I said it BACK!
Maybe not back to the book shelves, but definitely back to my reading obsession.
Who’d have thunk you could subscribe to great blogs like you subscribe to a magazine?
Who’d have known Twitter could also be a “library” – introducing me to all sorts of great new reading!
Who’d have figured that reading could be so easily compact and portable? (Thank you iPad!)
Ah huh! I’m back to not paying a lick of attention to my 3 kids, dog, husband … Somehow I’ve managed to resurrect my obsession with reading again.
What obsessions did you have to momentarily (?) let go of after having kids?
Kate! I thought you were writing about me here
My mouth hung open during this whole post, because it was like looking into a mirror! So many times my mom had to come in my room at 3 in the morning: “Kimberly, lights out now, no more reading.” And the library card I owned, dog-eared! I LOVE reading, too. It is an addiction, a healthy one!
But having children has definitely made it harder to read for six hours straight. I miss having the freedom to even scan the library shelves in my section, because my daughters are pulling me towards the kids’ section.
But reading blogs is definitely more manageable. Like right now my girls ran upstairs to play Queen and Princess, so I can slip into my chair and read some blogs
or my book, but I save my book for evenings.
I love this post, and it makes me feel so good to know I’m not alone in my addiction!
Kim recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: A Beginner Reader
Yea! Someone else with an “obsessive (yet virtually non-existent) reading problem!” LOL. I knew that it couldn’t me just me
There are many ways that blogging has helped me… but helping me to find my “reading groove” again is one of the best of them!
Kate, check out the side bar of my blog! Now two of your posts are part of my all-time favorites
I love how meaningful, insightful, and rich your posts are!
Kim recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: A Beginner Reader
Thank you Kim!
That is such a great complement! I just hooked up with you on Facebook too.
No kids, but I definitely understand your reading obsession and how it goes through its ups and downs depending on what’s going on around you. I’ll go through weeks of nothing but reading (yes, I flew through the Twilight series! Oh, and Hunger Games…LOVE!) and then I won’t pick up a book for I don’t even know how long. Nowadays it corresponds with my blogging – if I’m in a really good blog groove, no reading outside of blogs. If I’m a bit burned out, I go back to books. Either way, I’m reading constantly!
Mrs. Jen B recently posted..Lemon Risotto
Yes… I definitely think that there can be other things (besides kids!) that can lead to the “demise” of a reading obsession. It’s fun to find a great book again – but it can be very hard to find a great book – I have trouble enough finding the hours to do what I like to do >>> and it can be horrible to feel like I wasted precious hours reading something I didn’t like. What I love about blogs is that it is SO easy to find so many good ones out there! It makes “going to the library” something I can quickly and easily do from home now
Thanks for stopping over to my blog and using your “precious time” 
to read it!
Ah. Yes. With my oldest I could sneak in time for reading. But, after my twin boys were born, it was much more difficult (let alone finding time to write). Now that they’re a little older it’s much easier!
I love reading!
Susie Finkbeiner recently posted..Only 9 hours, 54 minutes left!!!
Doesn’t it feel good to be able to see the “light at the end of the tunnel?” I missed being able to read so much! I love that I’ve found your short stories, because they are just enough for me to “keep up with” while also chasing my kiddos around the house
Oh, thank you, Kate! You’re so encouraging!
Susie Finkbeiner recently posted..Only 9 hours, 54 minutes left!!!
Oh I competely understand!! I used to be in friendly reading competitions in school. Yep, that was me.
But since becoming a mother I only get to read when on vacation without my children. And lets be honest…how many times does THAT happen. Before I started blogging I would go on what I would call “Binge Reading” where I would plow through a few books in a weeks time, but then not be able to get back to reading for another month or more.
Blogging has really opened up the reading door for me, and I’m extremely thankful! Especially when I get to read blogs as wonderful as yours!!
Hopes@Staying Afloat! recently posted..The Final Countdown
Love it >>> Friendly Reading Competitions
Ha!
THANK you for such a tremendous complement! I’m so glad you enjoy the blog… I’m so new at this and have so little time to post more than once a week. I really appreciate that you continue to visit.
I’m pretty sure we’re sisters or something.
Love Sweet Valley High.
Beyond love Twilight series (and at the risk of TMI I don’t think the movies hold a whisper of a candle to the books).
Totally ignore everyone and everything in my life when a good book takes me.
Love my Google Reader.
I’m finding that as my kids are getting older, my ability to read is getting better. And this summer the girls and I had a “summer reading challenge.” I went a little crazy and read 9 books. Like real ones. It was like old times.
Plus my Barnes and Noble membership? Yeah, I totally abuse that little card.
Missy | The Literal Mom recently posted..Talking about Puberty (Or, A Situation Comedy)
The Twilight series books TOTALLY don’t hold a whisper to the movies… yet I still go – to EVERY one.
And I just knew there had to be someone our there besides me who read most all of the gazillion Sweet Vally High Books. Isn’t blogging great? Not only did it “resurrect” my reading obsession, it also helps introduce me to fun people who share of my crazy interests! Thanks for stopping back and visiting Missy.
I absolutely have this addiction, too…also from a young age!! Blogs have definitely helped me fulfill that craving to read, too, but I’ve also been addicted to them since my oldest was a year and half
.
I’m not in recovery like you, though…if a book I have not read enters my house, I will read it. I will read it that same day and not go to sleep until I’m finished, no matter what the time. I definitely feel the guilt, too, though, so luckily that inability-to-search-the-library thing prevents the massive influx of books… I keep telling myself that I SHOULD be able to read like a normal person, you know, just a chapter or 2 each night, but it’s impossible for me (at least when it comes to fiction).
Oh well, we’ll have time to indulge our addiction to reading when they are out of the house, right, when we’re missing these little-kid days
? Fun post, Kate! Glad to hear I’m not the only one!
That’s when you know you’re an addict > When you JUST. CANT. STOP.
And that is why I had to take some time away from reading, because I really, truly just could NOT put a book down unless I was finished with it! And it was taking me away from things that I had to do. But I am so glad that I have discovered blogs. They give me a chance to read in “smaller segments.” I can put my iPad down after I finish a post because the post is over. Plus it only takes 5-10 minutes (sometimes less) to read and comment on a good post!
So glad you enjoyed the post Sara! Thanks so much for reading.
I so agree with you about the wonderful aspect of blogs being smaller, actually manageable with kids segments. It’s brilliant. And yes, I really am still an addict so that’s why I won’t bring a book into the house unless I know I’ll have time to indulge
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Did I know you were a fantasy-freak? So near and dear to my heart. Try out George RR Martin – he’ll bring you back in – talk about feeling guilty while two kids are pulling on your leg
I feel everything you’ve said! I can’t wait until the kids are older and I can read again (along with them, hopefully!)
Do you have an iPad? Try the Flipboard app – Eric just showed it to me and it’s awesome! Newspaper-style reading of various social sites. Pretty cool.
Oh! I’ll have to keep that author in my back pocket! I miss reading Fantasy! It has been way too long! The problem with Fantasy is there are so many REALLY good authors, but there are also so many REALLY BAD authors. I got tired of trying to figure it out for myself! I love a good fantasy recommendation. Thanks J!
P.S. Just downloaded the Flipboard App! Can’t wait to check it out!
I’m a practicing addict. I read everything from books to cereal boxes. And admittedly, I think the people around me suffer sometimes. I stay up too late reading, and I pay for it (and so does my family) the next day. I put off making dinner so I can read during the kids’s nap time. Even my writing, which I believe ultimately benefits from being a reader, sometimes suffers because I HAVE to finish reading a good book before I can do anything else, like write.
Maybe I need a 12-step program?
Missy @ Wonder, Friend recently posted..Love and Music
See how easily reading can be compared to addiction? >>> 12-step program? Verses a “practicing reading addict” I like to refer to myself as a “closet reading addict” – except I can’t any more since I just called myself out on my blog!
Here’s good words of advice brought to you by another commenter (Shell) who said: “I ignore my kids to read- b/c it’s good to show them that reading is important. See? I’m not really even ignoring them, I’m setting a good example!”
I’m moving forward with that motto!
Reading and scrapbooking are both past (and hopefully future) obsessions of mine. I LOVE to read (nothing better than getting sucked in and escaping reality for a bit) but unfortunately find myself nodding off every once in awhile while doing so. Uninterrupted sleep is a rare commodity in my house too!
Hopefully someday I’ll be able to squeeze it back into my rountine and manage to keep my eyes open while doing it!
Scrapbooking TOTALLY got left in the dust after my oldest was born. It never had a chance for me… one of those things that I just picked up during the nesting stage of my pregnancy and then just NEVER got back to. LOL!
Twitter: wordsxo
says:
I never thought about obsession to reading being translated to blogs — interesting! I’ve been blogging lately about not writing enough/spending way too much time on Twitter and blogs, but when I look at it from this point of view — that I’m rejuvenating my love of reading, I feel much better. THANK YOU! For me, with much older kids (college), I feel more like I’m wishing there was a reason to let some things go again — would love to have those little kid distractions back again! *sigh*
Julia recently posted..The Great Giveaway
I know! It is a great way at looking at where your time goes
Like you, I also find myself getting lost in reading blogs and not getting enough writing done. I’ve started to realize that I write and work better in the morning. So I am trying to save my blog reading for night, after the kids go to bed… that has helped me A LOT. Twitter/Facebook – I haven’t solved that issue yet
Thanks for stopping over to my blog and leaving a comment!
Blogs have replaced a lot of my book reading.
But, I still love a good book. I ignore my kids to read- b/c it’s good to show them that reading is important.
See? I’m not really even ignoring them, I’m setting a good example!
Shell recently posted..Pour Your Heart Out: A Test Result
Ahhh! I never thought of it that way >>> As setting a good example!
I just read this comment to my husband (who laughed out loud) and am making a definite mental note for myself. Thanks for the insight Shell.