The Mario Walk
I was able to donate 14 paperback books to the Rainbow House via Aubrie Brown, author of The Trustworthy Tractor, after the Nebraska Book Fair on Saturday. Thank you to everyone who purchased a hardcover book at the event.
Use code THANKYOU for 10% off your next purchase.
The Mario Walk
Thoughts from my reading corner:
I was walking my son home from school the other day, and he asked me if I remembered our Mario walk. Then he started recalling details about said walk, and I couldn’t help but smile while simultaneously trying not to cry. Of course, I remembered. In our old neighborhood, there were manhole covers along the sidewalk and different variations in the slabs. I pretended that they were the tubes that Mario and Luigi traveled through in the video game. When we would come up to the next circle, I would grab their hands and do my best impression of the Mario tunnel sound and bend my knees like we were going in. They were so excited about this “new” way to walk the neighborhood that they started coming up with their own ideas and ways we had to walk around cracks in the pavement. Their animated little faces would light up when they saw another one up ahead. I didn’t set out to make memories on that first “Mario walk.” I’m honestly not even sure what made me think of it that day, but it’s something my son hasn’t forgotten.
I think, as parents, we sometimes think we have to make grand gestures to show our kids how special they are to us, but they really just want our undivided attention. They want our creativity and imagination to open up to them. They want to pretend a walk is a grand adventure instead of what it probably is…our excuse to get everyone out of the house and wear off some energy. The beautiful aspect of parenting that can get lost in the day-to-day chaos is that the smallest moments often leave the biggest impression. Whether it’s a kiss on the forehead when they are about to eat breakfast, or hopping down a manhole to a big Mario adventure. Don’t forget it’s okay to be silly every once in a while. It goes by too fast, and before we know it, we will realize we have held our baby for the last time. Maybe I’m a bit too sentimental. Or, is it possible that I’m acutely aware that the days pass without us realizing they are gone until we realize the little moments made the memories that we will cherish forever?
Share joy, spread kindness, and as always, happy reading.
-Katie Marie
THE KIDS’ CORNER |
What We Are Reading
Tuck’s Bookshelf:Stink by Megan McDonald (the author of Judy Moody, “Stink” is her brother). We found a set of books 1-3 at a thrift store and they have been a big hit.
Ella Bella’s Bookshelf:Giraffe and a Half by Shel Silvertein…at this point she has it completely memorized so she “reads” it to us.
My Bookshelf: I haven’t had as much time to read this past week so I’m continuing Stoicism 101 by Erick Cloward, Host of the Stoic Coffee Break Podcast, and I just started A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult.
Tip: Let your kids pick the bedtime story, even if it isn’t one of your favorites. There are so many decisions our kids don’t get to make, let their choice of book be one of them that they do.
THE CRAFT CORNER |
Framed Art
We have an area in our basement that is designated as the playroom. This is where coloring books, crayons, toy cash registers, and Barbies live. I wanted my kids to feel encouraged to keep creating, so I found a few old frames and hung a gallery wall of their art. It might just be one of my favorite areas of the house now. I don’t need a perfectly curated AI picture; give me a watercolor sunset with stick people any day.
Until next week.
