My Current Reading: Parenting, Pedagogy and Raunch

I know most people are watching the Oscars tonight but we are not really a TV family.  We cannot exist without high speed internet, Netflix, Hulu, PS3, Xbox and of course of all of our books. 

*Photo of Boone Library 

Kids Books (Harry Potter & Percy Jackson)

We (me and my two kiddos) just finished the first five Harry Potter books.  We have moved on to Percy Jackson because of length and dark material in HP is just too much at this point.  I am okay with discussing death with my little ones but monsters, teenage angst and institutional oppression is a little more difficult to explain at bedtime to my 5 and soon to be 7 year old. 

Percy Jackson is fun, first person and easier to read so that Nara (7) can read the first page aloud each night.  I am still lamenting that I have not found a book with a strong enough heroine that I want to read it to my kids.  It makes me want to write a kids book that is a girl with super power: that is a cross between Buffy, Zoe, and Hermione and is kicking some kind of monster butt. 

Adult Books (I heart Mercy Thompson)

Even titling this section “adult books” seems a little sketchy when I write the words but we all need guilty pleasure entertainment.  For a while I was avidly following the “VaginalFantasy” reading vlog on Google plus with Felicia Day but lately I have been too busy to keep up.  I was also not super happy with the book selection and deviated slightly.  When I start a book I finish it just based on principle even if its end up being total crap. 

I must admit I like a good balance of fantasy and a little bit of romance/borderline raunchy.  There is a fantasy romance continuum with Anita Blake on one end of the spectrum and Harry Potter on the other:  I usually fall somewhere in the middle but end up reading everything people recommend or lend.  This month I cannot wait for the new Mercy Thompson novel to reveal what is going on in the world of my favorite shape-shifting mechanic who married into a werewolf pack.

Pedagogy and Professional books (Teaching Naked)

I am reading two books currently that relate to teaching in Higher Education: One is Teaching Naked and the other is What the Best College Teachers Do.  Both titles provide practical thoughts on how to improve my teaching practice.  Later this week I am attending a symposium where Jose Antonio Bowen is the keynote speaker so I am excited to finish the last two chapter of Teaching Naked, but probably won’t get to it until I am on the train on the way there.  Of course my favorite chapter so far is about “Designing College Courses more like a Video Game.”

What the Best College Teachers Do has been full of surprises like the best teachers on specific subjects are not always those with the longest list of publications (Chapter 2).  I like that this book makes communication a key element of what good teachers do.  Communication and teaching is an inclusive conversation not a solo performance (p. 119).

I know many of you are looking forward to taking in fancy Oscar gowns and listening to moving speeches.  I am getting ready to enter the fantasy of greek mythology followed by a little grading and a pedagogical chaser. 

*I chose to only include only my non-dissertation reading list.  Though most of my life revolves around my dissertation it was fun to reflect on things that don’t. 

*Photo of moving my doctoral/dissertation books into new house 

Getting Better

Carrying my children to bed, teaching and practicing yoga, spooning with my husband and writing papers for my Doctoral program have been painfully impossible tasks since my scooter accident on January 16th. On Wednesday I got my second cast removed and I wanted to celebrate 3 small moments from this week that I did not realize I missed so dearly.

Brushing Hair

Much to my chagrin my 5-year old daughter Inara has beautiful, thick and very long hair. I complain pretty regularly about styling her hair because I often go a few days without brushing my own. Losing function in my left arm made me realize that losing that extra 20 minutes a day fighting to make the tangled mess in my daughters hair somewhat presentable is a special time we get together. John does a great job with bumpy ponytails accompanied by large hair bows but I miss the time we spend together each day getting through this ritual.

Video Games

Many people know that this blog started as a space to vent about marriage, parenthood and gaming. It is difficult to use a controller with one hand. My 4-year old son was in the hospital for a serious infection. His room at Memorial hospital had an Xbox and as per usual he asked me to jump a platform he was struggling with. Such a small request became a difficult moment for me and I am so glad when he asked to play Castle Crasher this week that I know I will do better (not good but better).

Reading Books

It is awkward, uncomfortable and difficult to read a book or nook with only one hand. I took for granted bubble baths and late night reading where I swapped hands and turned pages with ease. I love to read paranormal romance (Patricia Briggs, Laura Hamilton, PC Cast), fun mysteries (Evanovich) and trashy romance novels (any NY times best sellers). Being able to read a book to unwind without being in physical pain is a remarkable improvement in my life.

While I was recovering my daughter did cover my cast in jewels which made me look way more artistic than I really am. I also learned a lot about myself. I discovered I find jazz music incredibly soothing and that as much as I have resisted a housekeeper sometimes its good to ask for help.

There is still numbness, limitations and pain but each day I am getting a bit stronger. I accept that I will not be as I was before but that does not mean I cannot get better.