About Me:

Aloha! I'm Wendy Kennar. I'm the mother of a seven-year-old son and a wife living in Los Angeles. I was a public school teacher for twelve years until a chronic medical condition made it necessary to leave my teaching career.

I've always been described as "quiet" - really, I'm just biting my tongue. I've got lots to say, and lots of thoughts to share, I just prefer to write them. That's the purpose of this blog. Each Wednesday, I post a personal essay offering my observations and thoughts.

A few fun facts about me: I've wanted to be a writer since second grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Jones, made me a "book" with a yellow construction paper cover. I have never learned to whistle, have always preferred sunflowers to roses, and have spent my life living within the same zip code.

Through the years, my writing has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, United Teacher, GreenPrints, L.A. Parent, DivineCaroline.com, RoleReboot.org, XOJane, and Brain, Child Magazine. Additionally, my personal essays have been included in several anthologies, including: The Barefoot Review, Beyond the Diaper Bag, Lessons From My Parents, Write for Light, Being a Grown-Up: A User's Manual for the Real World, Ka-Pow!, How Writing Can Get You Through Tough Times, Breath and Shadow, The Grey Wolfe Storybook, and Sisters Born, Sisters Found.
I am a regular contributor at MomsLA.com, and you can also find me at Goodreads.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Feel free to comment and share my blog with others!

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Proud to be a Book-Buying Family




                                                                      one of Ryan's bookcases

   I’m lucky.  I can take my son to Target and he doesn’t ask to look in the toy department.  He walks right by it as we head to another section of the store.  We’ve been to Legoland once and Disneyland once.  And at each amusement park, we were probably one of the only families that didn’t head to any of the gift shops.  Ryan walked right by them, and we were fine with that.  

   One of his favorite things to shop for is books.  And me, being a former teacher, has  a hard time saying no.  On our last trip to our local Barnes and Noble, Ryan selected four books for us to read in one of our favorite quiet corners.  And then he asked me to buy all four books.  I took out the calculator and we figured out those books would cost $51.  So we compromised.  We bought 2 books there, and came home to comparison shop on Amazon.  But instead of buying those other 2 books, Ryan found 4 additional books he wanted.  (In all fairness, I found  a book too).  We ordered our 5 books for $48.  

   And I’m really okay with spending money on books.  We’ve been reading to Ryan since I first learned I was pregnant.  I’m a big believer in surrounding children with books, and I can proudly say that I am raising a boy who loves to read! 

   Now that Ryan is seven, he can help weed through his current book shelves to determine if there are any books he no longer wants and/or has outgrown.  The way I see it, it’s a win-win situation.  Ryan continues to love to read.  And when he finds books he no longer wants, we donate them.  I like knowing that we’re helping put books in other children’s hands.

   By the way, we’ve been making all our hand-me-down donations to an organization called “Baby to Baby.”  Here’s the link:  http://baby2baby.org/donate
Check them out next time you have a clean-up session at home.  (They accept items for children up at age 12).

4 comments:

  1. Honey,
    I am so proud of the great environment we have made for Ryan! It is an absolute joy to see his passion for reading nurtured and blossoming. You are a wonderful mother and have been the guiding light for Ryan's love of reading!
    I Love You!
    Love, Paul

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  2. It is wonderful how Ryan loves to read.He reads way above his age level and I like how he is interested in all subjects.I am always looking to buy him books,plus I have many books for him at my house.I love you and I am so proud of you.
    love,mommy

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  3. Ryan reads very well. I think we are a reading family. Your mother & I like to read also. Your mother & I are proud of you.
    Love, dad

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  4. I love your love for reading!! Thank you for raising a child who loves it as well. You are such an inspiration to mothers and I am so proud to call you my friend. I hope that I can be half the mom you are. I just love your writing. I can see you and Ryan reading in your quiet corner and then going home to compare prices. I feel like I am right there with both of you. I love and miss you!!!

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