I don't like the word fat. It's a little negative. I prefer to think of myself as a pudgy princess. However, two things have precipitated my getting serious about getting healthy. First, my daughter is pregnant. And while I am not yet happy with the term grand?.grandm?.I can't say it, let's just call it the "g" word, I do want to be around for a long time to love on this new life and any who may follow him. Secondly...our class pictures were just delivered. I was a little shocked by my photographic representation. In my mind's eye, I am both younger and thinner, not to mention better looking. While I am a tiny bit suspicious that there has been foul photoshop play, I doubt the company has the time or motivation to misrepresent me.

So, for a little over two weeks now I have been eating smart and exercising every day. Since the weather here in the great northwest is still a little cold and wet, I have been getting reacquainted with our long neglected treadmill. I have set the speed at 3.0 mph and walked up and down virtual hills faithfully for 30-40 minutes a day. Yesterday, I realized 3.0 was no longer a satisfying pace, so bumped it up to 3.2 mph. This minor adjustment now felt just right.

As I continued to walk, it occurred to me that I'd stumbled upon a beautifully clear analogy for the parents who insist that I challenge their child with difficult books. Had I begun my new walking regime at a 4.0 or higher, I would not have had the strength or stamina to stay with it for very long. I would certainly not have enjoyed it and may have even injured myself. Parents who insist their child spend time in difficult books are risking the same results. Instead of being afraid that their son or daughter will apathetically linger in easy books for the rest of their lives, they can rest assured that their young reader will be highly engaged, successful, and will continue to grow in appropriately challenging increments.

With summer nipping at our heels, it's a good time to remind parents how critical it is that their child continues reading during the summer months. We can encourage them to embrace the concept of 'good fit' books since research proves, and our experience confirms, that it's the best way to maintain the growth and momentum already established, as well as create lifelong lovers of literature.

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