A Foreshadowing with a Reading and Writing Reblog

Sometimes, you just need a minute to collect yourself when you’re in the middle of a reset for your creative outlet. And, that was me last week. I just needed a moment, so forgive me for being MIA. Been doing some soul-searching, simplifying, and prioritizing. But, I’m back this week with a more focused determination to proceed with the slightly newer path I’ve chosen to take with Degrees of Maternity. You can read all about that here.

In short, my new path is directing me toward coupling the writing emphasis on this blog with the reading, and I’m SO EXCITED about it. In fact, my Mom and I were having a discussion yesterday about my new foray into the virtual, reading tutoring world. In this conversation, I was discussing (with a teacher who loved teaching Kindergarten and first graders for over 30 years) the rewards of teaching children. I was preaching to the choir, of course; but, I think she wholeheartedly relished in the enthusiasm I was exuding just by talking about the tutor certification training experience thus far (as I haven’t even started working with the children yet).

In that discussion, she happened to mention how closely linked reading is with writing. And that “fireside chat” with my Mom further solidified that my impending pivot in content (to include my other love, Reading) is right in line with my direction for this blog during the remainder of 2023.

So, I decided to go back to my archives and see what I was up to when I had the whole “Incentivizing the Reader and Writer” series going on. And sure enough, back then, I was also enjoying my newfound direction, pivoting once again. I even used the word, foray, in my first blog post in the reading and writing series just like I’m using it in today’s post. Hee. Hee.

And what I’ve surmised from this creative journey I’ve been on is that I’ve basically come around full circle to where my true heart has resided all along — with reading and writing and being positively influenced by children to creatively voyage into the literacy world. Go figure.

Today’s reblog is just a reflection of this full-circle experience. I thought it’d be fun to bring the post out of the forgotten archives and pump some new energy into it in celebration of where I intend to head with Degrees of Maternity content from now until . . .

What you’ll be reading in the rest of this blog post is the reblog, entitled “Incentivizing the Reader and Writer Series” (dated February 20, 2022). As you read, you’ll quickly see some similar themes pop out from the past that are clearly STILL evident in the present and will, more than likely, proceed into the future. This reblog is definitely serving as somewhat of a foreshadowing of things to come.

Enjoy!

There’s a new blogging series on the horizon and it will be fondly referred to as “Incentivizing the Reader and Writer”. Yes, I just couldn’t help myself. I’m venturing into a new foray of fun-loving blogging — all with the reader and writer in mind. And that’s the reader and writer of all ages (just to let you know).

My goal with this series is to make reading and writing fun and engaging to my audience. I’d even settle for making these activities less of a chore and more of an enjoyable task for the reluctant reader and writer. And for those who don’t view reading and writing as dreaded activities, you’ll be making my mission a little bit easier. So, thank you. But just know that I’m not leaving you out of this journey. I’m coming for you, too. In your literary experience, I want to make reading and writing become more alive (in your lives) than ever before.

I know what I’m about to embark upon is a bold undertaking, because not everyone is meant to view reading and writing with the same focus my lenses provide me with. And, that’s okay. Your experiences with the written word (whether reading it or creating it) are meant to be unique to you. So, this new series is just a humble attempt to shed some light on how reading and writing can open up an exciting world of opportunities and adventures, if you let them.

What can I say? I’m a reader and writer by nature. That’s what I do. These are activities (actual skills sets) that I love. And, I can’t help but share my enthusiasm (toward them) with you — on a platform geared toward reading and writing. How fitting, don’t you think?

Oh, and you might be wondering why this series came to be. Well, it’s somewhat of a spin-off of “Lessons Learned as a Parent of a Virtually-Schooled Student.” Remember that series? Maybe not? I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t, because it totally dropped off the blogosphere some time ago. However, I had intended to go retrieve it and resume the lessons once again . . .

Until . .  .

My son, Little Man, started a new school at the beginning of this new school semester (back in January), following the winter break. And this new school is a brick-and-mortar, “your physical attendance is required” school. Yes, he has returned to in-person schooling. Well, he actually was doing some in-person schooling with the virtual school he previously attended; but now, he’s a full-time, full-day in-person student in his first year of middle school.

Good thing my son is young enough to not get so stuck in his ways that he can’t pivot when needed. Poor child has had a lot of change throughout his schooling experience. From being in-person schooled to homeschooled to virtually-schooled to in-person schooled (again), he’s been such a champ. And Covid, unfortunately, added an extra layer of challenges to the educational careers of our youngsters over these past couple of years.

So, children today are dealing with some unforeseen circumstances that we (adults) never personally experienced and would have never thought our children would ever have to experience either. Children are handling it, though. They’re such inspirational forces of nature.

I observe the strength and resilience in them (my children and children in general). And, it’s truly awe-inspiring. Children do what children do. They go with the flow in most cases. My son is no exception to this realization. He’s been such a trooper through all of the changes thrown at him lately. And he’s quickly acclimated to his new school environment just like he did with all the others.

Little Man is one of the motivating factors (along with some others) for this new series just like he was for the “Lessons Learned as a Parent of a Virtually-Schooled Student.” By the way, I thought it might be helpful if I brought up those lessons in this post (or at least the introduction to the lessons), since they’re being put to bed at this point. You can check out that introduction right here, if you’d like. There are 9 lessons in all with the ninth lesson posted on 11/9/21. And if you’re interested in reading the full series, please feel free to peruse the archives to see some of the helpful lessons I learned (as a parent) from my son’s virtual educational experience. (You can find them under the “Virtual School” category of posts.)

Furthermore, I’m not ending this series because there are no more lessons to be shared with you. I just feel that it’s time to move on to the topic that’s taking over my thought processes at this particular moment in time. Simply stated, my son has moved on and so has my newfound blogging inspiration.

And here’s what this newfound blogging inspiration has resulted in — it’s resulted in the addition of an extra day to the Degrees of Maternity blogging schedule. So, I’ll be coming out with new blog posts every Sunday to release a smorgasbord of incentive nuggets encouraging audiences of all ages to get on board the reading and writing train. Should be a pleasant ride that takes us on a journey filled with some good stuff. Fun. Excitement. Enjoyment. Adventure. Learning opportunities. Growth and development. Engaging interaction and participation. You know — that kind of good stuff — in reading and writing, of course. It can be done, people.

So, what do you think? Are you on board?