Reznet

Reading as an Investment

By Christie Cooke

I went to one of my favorite places, the bookstore, this past weekend.

I finally had some alone time, so I took advantage of the time to read, write, and, of course, to buy some books for my children.

This is one of my shopping weaknesses. If I'm in a store that has a children's book section, granted I have some extra time and money to shop, I'll probably have a few board books in my hands for Emma and Edward.

When I shop for my children's books, I remember my days as a child, and how much I enjoyed reading and examining the illustrations in my books.

My parents never verbally encouraged me to read, although they bought me many books.

In reading, I found a place I was comfortable with myself and learned the importance of it, and to this day, I stand by the fact that it has been the cornerstone of my studies in undergraduate and graduate school.

My plan is to continue to foster my children's imagination with books, letters, words, illustrations, and photographs, in hopes to increase their desire to learn.

Sometimes I'm unsure about this plan.

Actually, Emma has already developed the very beginnings for her love for books. She's eager to read, loves the mom-and-daughter time, and will even choose to read books over watching television!

The times that Edward and I have read together, he'll roll around the bed instead of showing any interest in his books. Other times, he shows much promise in the ways he picks up his board and sponge books and eats the pages and salivates all over them.

Reading and buying books probably serve my interest more than my children's. Nevertheless, it's an investment I am happy and proud to make in their lives.

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Read Christie Cooke's previous Native Moms blog, "A Mother's Struggle"

Christie Cooke, Navajo, has a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona. She is a graduate of the Freedom Forum's 2007 American Indian Journalism Institute.