45 Comments
User's avatar
Marshall R Peterson's avatar

Maybe there is hope for this tired old planet. Kyle, could you please have a few more kids?

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

Tell him, Marshall! 😂

Kyle Shepard's avatar

Haha bite your tongue Marshall! I agreed to trying for one more. Don’t need you encouraging any more than that unless you’re ready to come down and help out.

Marshall R Peterson's avatar

Does sending you a drum set count as help?

Kyle Shepard's avatar

😂😂😂

Stacy Boone's avatar

Gingerbread croutons, oh my.

What exists in this essay is quiet and a deep love that extends not just across the room but outwards for the reader. An offer to participate, to create their own ritual. To cherish learning and imagination and maybe even a comfort with being a lover of stories.

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

Thank you! To inspire others to adopt a similar ritual would be an honor. ❤️

Kyle Shepard's avatar

❤️❤️❤️👊🏻

Tim W's avatar

Beautiful, man. Truly.

We do something similar in our house, and it’s my favorite part of the day. “Can I finish my chapter” would seem to be a universal request.

Thanks for sharing.

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

Yes! Can’t really say no to that one. 😊

Kyle Shepard's avatar

Thank you brother. A routine that benefits us all in many ways.

Erin Miller's avatar

So... do you allow visitors to attend this reading ritual? What a beautiful description of a powerful practice.

And, I'm with Marshall. Keep reproducing. ❤️

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

I mean OBVIOUSLY you’re welcome to join any time you want, lady! ❤️😊

Erin Miller's avatar

I'm already thinking about which book I'll bring with me. 😊

Kyle Shepard's avatar

You’ve already been invited and it’s rude not to accept the invitation

Erin Miller's avatar

Haha!

Erik Hogan's avatar

That is such a powerful, treasured family time! I tried very hard to instill a love for reading in my two. My daughter is now an avid reader and makes her own trips to Barnes and Noble. My son, not so much! 😂

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

I mean, has he read anything you’ve written?! That has to inspire some love of reading!

Erik Hogan's avatar

I honestly don’t think that he has. He sees some of the pictures that I post, but I don’t think he’s read the essays. Oh well, it’ll be out there in the ether for whenever he’s interested!

Kyle Shepard's avatar

Haha love it. Phases of life. You never know. Some seeds take a while to sprout.

Erik Hogan's avatar

True!

Danni Levy's avatar

Love this. Associating reading to love, safety, coziness, family time.

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

Thank you Danni! ❤️

Kyle Shepard's avatar

❤️👊🏻

Judith Frizlen's avatar

I love the quiet half hour at the end of the day. Usually, I read in bed before going to sleep, but to share it with my husband and our grandsons when they sleep over, sounds lovely. Also, the meal. We had baked chicken with vegetables last night. Both important: nourishing food for the body and soul-nourishing books.

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

I love that connection of mind and body nourishment, thank you Judith! Baked chicken just always feels like home. 😌

Baird Brightman's avatar

“Monkey see, monkey do. Well to maintain this little circus, we’ve implemented a “quiet reading half hour” at the end of the evening.”

More parenting wisdom in those two sentences than in a lot of books and courses. Thanks Mary Kate. Oh, and if you have any of those duck fat-fried potatoes left over, I can swing by any time!

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

Thank you Baird! And yes, pull up a chair at our table anytime. 😊

Baird Brightman's avatar

Thanks MK! I’ve been rocking on the porch with Kyle for a while. Happy to be invited inside with the family! ✌️

Kyle Shepard's avatar

Open invite! (Good luck finding left overs after one day though)

Baird Brightman's avatar

Oh I’ll bet. You probably need about 5K calories a day to sustain those wicked workouts of yours. Clean fridge!

Kyle Shepard's avatar

Let’s go!

Michael Woudenberg's avatar

My kids are obsessed with books. We have to peel them away and, many nights, extract them from a sleeping child's bed after they snuck the book light for post tuck in reading. Audiobooks are also great and they listen while folding laundry and other chores.

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

An obsession with books is a beautiful thing to have. You’ve done precisely what we are trying to achieve! What a gift.

Kyle Shepard's avatar

My daughter stays sneaking on her reading light. A night owl like her mother, she regularly gets more time in as me and the boys are passing out. Good problems to work with 👊🏻

Lou Tamposi's avatar

Man, that reading time is so good. We’re still pre-literate, but this is a great reminder to keep a book downstairs so the kiddos can see me reading in my downtime.

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

Thanks Lou! Some Meat I’ve Known is currently sitting on our side table, it’s on my list. 😊

Kyle Shepard's avatar

You’re in the story-telling phase which has influenced me tremendously! I think about the story you told your daughter about the little princess often. I attempt to do similar things in relation to issues each child may be struggling with.

Data Frank's avatar

I love this so much. Saying yes to books isn’t just about reading it’s about saying yes to curiosity, imagination, and growth. What a beautiful legacy to build in a home.

Mary Kate Shepard's avatar

Bingo! Thank you so much. ☺️

Kyle Shepard's avatar

I’m a lucky man. Appreciate you brother.

Data Frank's avatar

You are welcome, brother.

Kirsten Breidenbruch's avatar

this is beautiful Kyle

Kyle Shepard's avatar

My wife is the best writer in the house for sure