I once read in a prominent newspaper article about mothers that some working moms didn’t like being around stay at home mothers because they found them stupid.  They assumed being at home meant they could only do baby talk. I was offended on many levels but I realized that staying at home made me smarter.

How do people learn? Increase knowledge? Gain vocabulary? Through reading.  When my second son was home we didn’t know he was on the autism spectrum but we did know he was high needs. For whatever reason, he wasn’t latching on in breastfeeding and we went to a million specialists and tried this and that to feed in any way possible.  So, if he did eat what I wanted him to (mama’s milk), I wouldn’t move.I had to stay still on the couch. Then, if he fell asleep, I also stayed still since he was crying all the time when he was awake.

So, the couch was full of books and magazines. I read all the time.  Staying at home made me more intelligent.

I thought of that today since I just ordered another book. I haven’t read this much since then.  Zoom and the pandemic has made me social by joining a few book clubs.  They are a wonderful way to build community. My mother’s book club friends were the first to show up at her funeral. They were her social world.

There are many ways to build a community. If book clubs scare you, I do know one secret. Not all clubs stay on topic.  They usually veer off and just laugh and enjoy each other.  Or, you could cheat like George on Seinfeld and just watch the movie.

Happy Reading!