Coffee Break Reading List - April 2023

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A little background on the Coffee Break Reading List. On my original blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, I started doing an occasional round-up of some of the stuff around the internet that I'd found interesting and worth passing along. Since it was a blog mostly about homeschooling, I tried to make sure I was including articles of particular interest to home educators, but when I was no longer homeschooling my own kids, it got a little harder to keep ahead of homeschool topics, and eventually the Coffee Break Reading List was retired. I've brought it back in this space, but not with the homeschooling focus.  Just some interesting and fun things that I hope others will find interesting and fun as well.

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Some of the things around the web that I've been reading or exploring during recent coffee breaks: 

I saved this article on Editorial Planning from the blog Fine, Whatever awhile ago and have revisited it a few times to consider what useful information I could glean from it. It's about planning a workflow and content for a blog, so while part of me says, "oh that's just for bloggers that are influencers and want to make money from their blogs," I also realize that even as a hobby blogger there are things I can learn. 

Anita Ojeda blogs regularly about self-care, and so many of her articles are helpful and practical that it's hard to pick out just one. I chose this one to share―Why You Shouldn't Completely Abandon Art or Learning During a Crisis―because I think our artistic outlets are often the things we set aside first when we're going through something hard. Whether or not you consider what you're going through a crisis, having a creative or artistic way to escape or to process is important. It's not just a luxury! For me, I have a hard time referring to my move and sudden empty nest status as a crisis, but it certainly is a huge change and adjustment and has a lot of crisis-type emotions that go along with it. So yes, I'm trying to continue pursuing some creative interests these days.

Christopher Rufo at City Journal wrote this article, The Courage of Our Convictions, two years ago, but it is still very relevant and important. The subtitle is "How to Fight Critical Race Theory". Fight it we must. It is neo-Marxism and it has been allowed to get a foothold throughout our educational institutions and in most areas of business. Rufo gives the background and lays out how we got to this point, and challenges us to stand firm against this dangerous philosophy.

I don't know where this graphic came from originally, but it's a great image of what a parent sees as a child grows up.

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Quotable  (I enjoy hunting up little quotes to add to my Five Minute Friday posts, and have started to amass a collection that are begging to be shared somewhere):

I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to. ~W.C. Fields

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence. ~Abigail Adams

The greatest kindness one can render to any man consists in leading him to truth. ~St. Thomas Aquinas

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Some fun things I've found during coffee breaks:

Some of you will get this one:

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Something I watched during coffee break:

This TED Talk by K.C. Davis was one I saved awhile ago, but I definitely think it's worth sharing. Davis is a therapist, author, and speaker who founded Struggle Care. In this clip she talks about how people struggling with depression or other mental health issues have trouble dealing with the everyday tasks of running a household, and gives practical advice for making your home functional when you're in crisis and overwhelmed. 

Instead of Chores, try saying Care tasks. Chores are obligations. Care tasks are kindness to self. ~K.C. Davis

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What I've been reading during longer coffee breaks:

When Tomorrow Came by Hannah Linder - Nan and Heath are siblings abandoned by their father when they were very young, but separated and grew up under very different circumstances. When their father finally returns, they are reunited but face turmoil and danger and heartache as a result.

Women Talking by Miriam Toews - After the movie based on this book got some Oscar buzz, I took notice of it because the author is from the town my Mom and grandparents lived in for most of their lives. In an isolated Mennonite community, a group of women gather secretly to decide for themselves their response to the abuse they've suffered.

After the Boxes Are Unpacked: Moving On After Moving In by Susan Miller - This book was a gift from a friend and the encouragement and wisdom it contains are very timely and helpful! I'm very close to finishing it.

On my reading pile for upcoming coffee breaks:

Murder Most Fair by Anna Lee Huber - another one that's been on my list and bedside table for a long time. Hopefully very soon!

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - Just purchased this one and am excited about getting into it, as it looks a little different from the Lady Julia and Veronica Speedwell series that I love.

   

Find out more at my book blog Just A Second.

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Found anything interesting on the web lately? Read any good books? Leave a comment and let me know!

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