I have been beating myself up every day about not posting. I have plenty of excuses: sleepless nights, ongoing home renovation, preparing Tot 1 for Transitional Kindergarten, traveling, hosting guests in our home, distraction with my Usborne Books & More business…the list goes on. However, every day I haven't posted, has also made me confront a fear of mine.

I'm not not exactly a risk-taker, and I've realized what parts of my life that affects. I don't set goals, because I am afraid I won't reach them, which results in the self-deprecation cycle. As much as I set high expectations for myself, I know also that what other people may think is definitely a part of my seeming lack of ambition. I rarely announce my goals because then I'll let people down when I don't meet those goals. I by no means keep a perfect house or am under the delusion that I can do no wrong, but admitting to myself that I didn't meet expectations really throws me for a loop. It becomes too real, and I have difficulty digging myself out and being motivated to try again.

But here I am, still committed to this blog and to the cause of spreading awareness about the importance of reading to your kids, for your kids, and with your kids. I launched this blog with an idea, and that idea is changing and taking new forms. I have so many ideas, so I am working on organizing them. I have a slight issue with taking things one step at a time. When I brainstorm ideas, I want to throw my energy at every great idea, rather than sequencing them. It's time to develop organizational skills along with some courage!

I did not expect this blog to teach me so much about myself, but now I know there is plenty more to learn and discover!

Now that you know where I am in my life, you'll understand why the next Spotlight Story will be Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster, by Michelle Nelson-Schmidt. This book will be great for your tots and for you as well! I can't wait to share this book with you and to introduce you to the author, because she is nothing short of inspiring! Stay tuned for some fun activities while we talk back to our personal Whatif Monsters!