What we're reading - Mama edition

I was reading an interesting post the other day on Laura Vanderkam's blog. Making time to read: Supply vs. demand She writes for Fast Company, my all time favorite business magazine, about productivity.

I highly recommend reading the whole post, but here is the general gist. She was talking about how people fit time for reading into their schedules and the fact that readers generally fall into 2 categories - 

• Supply readers - or those who make reading a part of their every day schedule, reading before they go to bed at night or while their children nap,
• or Demand readers - they read a lot when they have something they really want to read.

Honestly - I think I fall on the demand side for pretty much everything in my life. An interesting thought that I should probably spend some more time contemplating. But for now, we are talking about reading. So here is what is on my nightstand right now. 

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - I'm not sure where, but sometime in December I stumbled upon an online book club that was going to read all of Jane Austen's books in a year and discuss them through the lens of motherhood. I needed a good challenge to get myself reading something besides parenting books and this seemed like a good place to start. Pride and Prejudice was first. I read it ages ago and loved it even more this time. Next up was Mansfiled Park and I am having a hard time with this one. Fanny is just too good. But I am determined to finish.  If you want to join the book club you can find it on the Gidget Goes Home blog.

Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish - Self explanatory. I should finish this book ASAP because I am seriously considering switching cars just so I don't have to listen to them fight all the time. 

Nurture Shock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman- It is like Freakonomics for parents. Awesome. Ben and I were trying to take turns reading this, reading one chapter at a time so we could talk about it. But then I slowed down and he took it over. I'm hoping to get it back soon because the chapter on how damaging it is when kids don't get enough sleep was fascinating. As was the one on the inverse power of praise. It really impacted the way we parent. The next chapter on why white parents don't talk about race is one I can't wait to read. I think it is one of the reasons why I am so drawn to the Barefoot Books, they are multicultural without being preachy or pushy. 

Nightlights: Stories for You to Read to Your Child - To Encourage Calm, Confidence and Creativity by Kate Petty, Joyce Dunbar, Louisa Somerville, and Anne Chivardi - I got this one because Claire was having a hard time calming down at night and was starting to have some anxiety and issues with perfectionism. Hmm, sound like anyone else I know? Plus who doesn't want to encourage Calm, Confidence and Creativity? It reminds me very much of the classes I attended as a child that were introductions to meditation. I still use some of those same techniques now when I can't sleep at night. It would probably be even more beneficial if I actually finished it.

So that is what is on my nightstand. A little heavy on the parenting side and light on the fun side. How does this relate to supply and demand? These books have been on my nightstand for about 2 months. I was plowing my way through books like crazy and then...nothing. I just lost interest, or life got in the way. I devoted my reading time to setting up my company or planning for Violet's first birthday, or blogging, or knitting, or a dozen other things. Not that these aren't good books, because they are, but they aren't the most pressing issue in my day right now. But now I've told you they are on my nightstand and maybe that will help me finish them. 

Anyone else have a stack of books they read at the same time? Or do you prefer one at a time? Any good books that you can suggest that might kick off another reading fest for me? Have you read any of these books and can encourage me along? Do you want to hear more about any of these books? Comment and let me know what you think.