035. Why I’ve Started Reading Poetry Again + 9 Reasons It’s Helped Me as a Mom + (Why I Can’t Believe I’m Saying That Out Loud)

Omg. How fluffy does reading poetry sound? Seriously. It seems so frivolous in our modern world. When I think of poetry I don’t picture a mom with a beautiful messy bun on the top of her tired head, sipping cold coffee in yesterday’s yoga pants while tiny children scream at her feet, doing everything they can to draw her attention away from the page she is so obviously not engrossed in. Instead, when I think of poetry, I imagine something out of an old movie…sleek beatniks lying around an apartment in Paris, smoking, reading poetry aloud to one other on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Or Shakespeare, alone in his home, writing powerful works. Or college students wasting their money studying poetry. Or any other cliché or opinion about poetry that marks it as “not for us.” Poetry is none of that. It’s none of those stereotypes. It is words strung together in such a way that it expands our hearts and minds. Poems leave room for us and our imagination—we get to put a piece of ourselves into them with our interpretation of the stories they tell or the scenes they paint or the points they make. So how could reading poetry be perfect for modern moms? For the 9 reasons I’m going to share with you about how it helps me. 1. Reading Requires Intentional Stopping 2. It's Self Care 3. Poems are Typically Short 4. Poems are Calming 5. It's Artistic 6. It Feeds My Spirit 7. It Deepens My Connection to Nature 8.  It Brings Me Into the Moment 9. It's a Positive Hobby to Model for my Kids Listen to the full episode for all the details in between!  Visit Today’s Sponsors: Blossom & Root. Today’s episode of Elevating Motherhood is sponsored by Blossom & Root a nature-based, Charlotte Mason inspired homeschool curriculum company that has been gently guiding and supporting families for years! This thoughtful, age appropriate curriculum begins at the preschool level—and acts as a much-needed resource for this age group. Blossom & Root’s Early Years Volumes 1 & 2 are valuable tools for parents with young children—whether you choose to pursue homeschool long term or not. The information and ideas are easy to follow, fun, and engaging. School age curricula are also available with more grade levels being released each year. It’s the curriculum my family uses and loves. They’ve generously offered a discount for listeners of Elevating Motherhood: use the code LORIBETH10 at checkout for 10% off your order. For more information about Blossom & Root, head over to www.elevatingmotherhood.com/homeschool Beautiful & Simple. Today’s episode is sponsored by Beautiful & Simple. An online boutique filled with products that remind us to slow down, practice self-care, & focus on the meaningful parts of our day: the beautiful & simple moments. My favorite mug is the one that says “you cannot pour from an empty cup.” It’s my daily reminder to take care of myself so I can take care of my family. Go check out the collection of mugs, shirts & bags currently available at www.beautifulandsimple.com Elevating Motherhood Links:  Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/loribethauldridge Facebook: www.facebook.com/elevatingmotherhood iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevating-motherhood/id1479731562 Blog: www.yayamamas.com