In what manner did the books you read as a pre-teen or teen get chosen for you?

Did you pick them , and if so, from what selection?

Looking back, do you feel that reading influenced who you are today?

(( I am intentionally not putting this item in parenting, as I want it to be more about what impacted you, then I do about how you as a parent/mentor influence children))

Often when I listen carefully to points of view within the church that are called "emerging" or "progressive,"  my impression is that they are missing something that is vital. This is obvious if you've read my posts here or my blog, to the point that some might wonder if I'll ever stop kvetching about it. Maybe, someday, but that day has not yet come, because I just came across a beautiful quote in a book that I'm reading by E. F. Scott that speaks to the concern that I feel about that "something missing" in how we at times approach development.

My daughter turned 3 less than a month ago and for the past few months has started trying to read.  She knows the sounds to most of the letters and is trying to sound out the words in her books.  (She has trouble running the sounds together to form the words still though.)  I was quite surprised when she started to do this, so I asked her preschool teacher about it.  The advice she gave me was to not focus on that aspect of learning and to start doing lots of arts related activities with her.  It is her opinion that if she learns to read thi

As some of you might know, my significant other is from Barcelona, Spain.  I have been very lucky to visit the city many times, and each time I am amazed by its public transit.  Many people don't own cars.  It's one euro for a metro/bus fare, flat - no zoning like London or Madrid.  One euro makes TTC's 2.75 look exorbitant.