I must have at least 8 books on my nightstand that I have yet to finish. I try to carve out ten minutes a night for good paper and ink, but always wish I had more time to pour through some of my favorite reads. I was such a bookworm growing up, and spending hours reading one without a care in the world is probably something I will miss until I am an empty nester. HOWEVER, I finally took the advice of many friends and family members and downloaded the audible app. Why oh why did I wait so long? This has been the coolest thing since sliced bread around here.
Since I spend a good deal of time in the car picking up my little ones from school (we have about a thirty minute drive to and from their school), I was desperate for more audiobook options. I had played and replayed the stories of the great musicians on cds, which they now have memorized. They were ready for some new content.
I knew exactly what my very first download would be for them. My own personal childhood favorite: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I used to get lost in the world of Narnia for hours at a time, and read the entire series cover to cover. The story made the characters come alive while instilling a deep appreciation for good character development and the battle of good and evil. Since so many animal characters are woven in, I knew Gabriel and Veronica were ready for it. I didn’t know how they would respond to hearing it versus reading it, but I now see that this was a way for them to hear the story much sooner than they would be able to read it. While the hardcover is beyond their reading level, the story told in an intriguing voice completely captured their attention. We have a Bluetooth adapter in the car, so we can link the audiobook app from our phone to the radio of our car to play over the speakers.
I have had the bliss of no squabbling and silent intent listening on the way home from school every day. Besides their usual ten questions about the story that is. It has made me SO happy to see them fall enamored with the story just as I did when I was a kid. They beg me to bring the story inside when we get home, and so often we spent time inside listening to it as well in which we use bluetooth headphones or a JBL speaker for all to hear. It has been a great way to spend time with my son Gabriel, and it makes me so happy to see him react to the story the same way I once did with wide eyes and big grins. Of course, as you can see through this post, the others always want to join in as well one by one.
As for me, I have a whole list I am going through on the way to pick them up, during time I am cooking in the kitchen, or for travel or work commutes. I finally got to listen to Girl Boss, and am almost done with Present over Perfect.
If you haven’t gotten to try Audible yet, here is the link for a 30 day free trial (which includes a free download!.) Becoming a member continues to include benefits such as a free download a month. There are many stations and series you can stream for free as well. Gabe is currently trying out The Great Courses, and I always enjoy shows like Freakonomics Radio. I can’t wait to start Charlotte’s Web with the kids next.
I’d love to hear what books you are reading or listening too, as I am always looking to expand my list!
Have a great week ahead. x
*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Audible. All opinions and text are my own.
