Summer reading is peace of mind away from the busyness online
THE Little Fella made a confession to me the other morning. As a parent I always see it as a great sign when your offspring are willing to open up about things that are bothering them. Looking into my eyes, he explained an epic faux pas he committed on Minecraft, a video game he’s hooked on. “I’ ll have a meeting about it tomorrow,” he said, having explained how he retaliated too strongly against a friend, having misunderstood said ‘friends’ intentions in trying to steal his loot.
Hard to keep up, in fairness, but I did feel for the guy – trying to be an ultra Hunger Games warrior and respectful at the same time.
Communication online and in person is so important and as we spend so much time together, me and him, (The Whirlwind Wonder’s social life is something to behold!), he used me as a sounding board.
I happily listened and let him talk through his conundrum.
“I think I overreacted. I’ ll apologise and have a friend back me up.” The cuteness aside, it goes to show how much our interactions with peers mean to us.
Being ghosted, ignored, spoken down to or up to, they all impact.
At times I struggle to keep up with the lingo The Little Fella and his sister have, from slay, to griefing, I’m a bit lost most of the time.
They seem to think of me as an old guy who gets in their way, trying to teach them about fiscal responsibility, being environmental responsible, cleaning up after themselves, sunscreen (never forget the sunscreen!) and reading.
As someone who can find it hard to relax and was frequently told growing up by my mother that I’d ants in my pants, I force myself to read and then enjoy it.
Whether sitting out in the garden with birdsong and seagulls and the wind rustling the trees, or in next to the lizard indoors, I find it relaxing and the perfect antidote to all the distraction of social media.
Which brings me to my current conundrum. What to read over the summer!
With a three week break coming up and not a book recommended, I’m in a bit of a limbo. The children are stuck into various series, from Maze Runner to Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, while I’m struggling to think of anything I need to read.
The last book was one I felt I should dip into, it being from a celebrated Irish author. Poetic writing – check. Sex – check. Family trauma – check.
I went from that to Carl Jung psychology and am now reading a page turner called ‘Silent Witness’.
The long days ahead will be bookended by reading. The writing has gone by the wayside but then any writer worth his salt reads a lot, they say, so that’s a good discipline to maintain.
Days on the sun lounger and sheltering from the rain mean the gift that keeps on giving that my mother instilled in me, reading, will help me pass what will hopefully be a sunny summer of beach and river days. With a local election coming up, there was even good news for the local library, which will double in size, meaning more books.
As one of my children continues to support the local bookshop, buying book after book, I’ ll be perusing the library shelves for thrillers, biographies etc to support their good habits, and ensure that I’ ll continue having to remind them to stop reading as they’re tucked up in bed at night.