Were You Read to as a Child?

Have you ever realized that you're pendulum parenting completely subconsciously? This happened to me a little while ago. 

I was sitting in front of my publisher for a marketing interview and he was popping questions off to me. I am not a slouch and was very well prepared for all of them, except this one:

"What books were read to you as a child?"

I was completely stopped in my tracks. "Ummmmmmmmm..."

I realized right then and there that my parents never read to me as a child. Ever. 

Now, truth be known, I was the third born (my closest sibling is 9 years older than me) and as we all know, youngest kids usually don't have many baby photos, or a baby memory book (in fact my mom gave me my blank book from 1983 when my first was born to use - ha!), and in my case weren't read to.

What immediately came to mind were some of my favourite books I read in school and as a tween: Goblins in the Castle, The Hobbit, James and the Giant Peach, but there were literally no picture books that I could recall from my pre-reading days or primary years. It was like I started reading books when I could read! It was shocking and saddening. 

Then I realized maybe that's why I read to my kids at nauseum alllllll the children's literature classics. And why I still take them to libraries all over town. In fact, I got 7 copies of Goodnight Moon when my first was born and had never seen the cover before in my life. Heck my mom bought me a copy of I'll Love Your Forever when I was in my 20s because she had just realized how moving it was - I hadn't seen it before in my life.

I'm so glad my publisher asked me that question, even through it hurts my heart a little. Pendulum parenting is real. And so now I have a collection of children's books that is close to 300 strong that my own kids grew up reading (and also can be used in our yoga classes).

So, this whole ordeal has got me wondering - What were your favourite books from childhood??? Were you read to as a child? I'd love to know.

- xx Megan