Could I Get Some "HELP" with Read Across America Week, Please?

It's Dr. Seuss' birthday, and this legend warrants a week long holiday that's quite the kicker for parents. I admit I'm finding both facets of this special week to be a bit contradictory-"No TV, Just REEEEAD!!!"

I totally LOVE the last part. I'm on board. In fact, I'm in the midst of the best book I've read in a long time. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett is a novel about the 1960's southern white ladies-black maid relationships, and the lovable, laughable characters and dead-on lingo completely suck you in. I have NO desire to ever put it down. So if you see me at a red light, in a drive-thru, or at church staring at my lap, that's why.

I simply adore the idea of laying around the house all day with the kids, all of our noses stuck in such beloved books. But "HELP"! Cuz hit ain't happenin'.

Today our calendar was pretty open. So I scheduled a triple-kid playdate for Blake in hopes of an afternoon of page-turning. But the triple drink, snack, and "share...!!!" breaks intermingled with the usual afternoon phone calls, dishes, and Gracie-chasing kept me book-free. Then, when the friends left, Gavin came home and wanted to teach me how to play chess--again. "I'll go easy on you this time, Mom!" He had had a hard day at recess, so I couldn't say no. But I kept my book open beside me, just in case. Yet whenever Gavin took a long turn, Alex wanted me to discuss Venn diagrams, multiplying fractions, and characterization--while Blake climbed on my lap plugging his nose as a stinky Gracie in her stinky diaper ran around, hiding from us.

NONE of these kids feel like reading. But I REALLY feel like turning on the TV.

HEEELLLLP!