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Bookswithtea
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Am I the only one that cannot seem to keep up with books like The Christmas Mystery and the Jotham's Journey series? These 7 days a week readers are the bain of my existance every Advent.  I always plan one along with lots of picture books. I get to all the picture books because, well, if I have a busy day, I can always do it the next day. But these don't allow for getting behind *at all*. I am already 3 days late on The Christmas Mystery, which I only made it halfway through last year before I finally gave up when I realized I'd never finish 14 days worth before Christmas Eve.
I don't think our days are too busy. I'm really careful about that. But Advent has a busy-ness of its own, with baking, shopping, wrapping, get togethers, etc.
I'm flummoxed and wondering if I should just give up now and just stick to picture books, or if I should read 5 days worth on Sunday (because we have a birthday this weekend and tree shopping and won't be able to get to it until after Mass and after St. Nicholas Day celebrations on Sunday), and try once again to keep on schedule. I don't even know if I can get through 5 days worth of the Christmas Mystery (the readings are looonnnnggg) without getting hoarse! 
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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folklaur
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Bookswithtea wrote:
I'm flummoxed and wondering if I should just give up now and just stick to picture books, |
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this is sort of what i did.
i am lousy at keeping up with this kind of stuff ( we are already behind on the Jesse Tree. argh!)
i made a google calendar this year, and put in a picture book for each day - lots of days i also came up with an activity idea. it is going well, and it is SO much easier to switch a day (for a shorter book, or simpler craft/activity) if we are feeling stretched for time. also - the craft ideas are just that - ideas, not "have to's" - and for the most part i came up with ideas based on what i already had, so no extra shopping.
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guitarnan
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I've found that my children - both older now - love revisiting their Advent favorites each year. We really enjoy sitting down with Jan Brett, Tomie dePaola and other picture book authors!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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JodieLyn
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First of all.. just because they have a schedule doesn't mean you have to follow it exactly.
Why not read 2 nights worth anytime you get to read.. then you can miss 3-4 nights a week when reading.
I was out of luck this year because I started Advent with no voice at all.. and here we are 5 days in and I could only start reading now.. totally overwhelming to think.. I need to read 5 days to catch up.. but if I just double up.. you know.. that might be possible 
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lapazfarm
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I've never been able to stick to a schedule of any sort. Guess that's the unschooler in me rearing it's head. I tend to look at these sorts of things this way: I will get to what I can. What I can't, perhaps we will get to next year. Or the next, or the next...
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EmilyC
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Yes! I have the same problem. Last year I got Jotham's Journey a week into Advent, thinking I could just double up the readings--we ended up so far behind that I just put it away for this year. So far, we're keeping up, but of course, we're only a week in. Also, my kids groan when I get out the book, so I'm wondering if I should keep reading in case it gets better, or just give up.
We have the same problem with A Family Journey With Jesus Through Lent. I just can't keep up with the readings! I think it would be easier if they were Mon-Fri though--the weekend is what kills us.
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mom2mpr
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We just finished The Christmas Mystery. But we traveled for Thanksgiving in the car. For the past 3 years we have gotten it on tape from the library at the start of Advent. We listen to it in the car throughout Advent and we LOVE it. So we hear many chapters at a time. If you have a day the kids are really into it keep reading. You can finish it by Christmas.
Don't give up, just keep trying. Or maybe cut back. We do The Christmas Mystery and bunches of picture books. No biggie if we don't get to them all but I also just have them around to read with no schedule.
Or, maybe those particular books just don't work for your family. It is OK!!! Some books we just can't get into.
Enjoy the season!!
Anne
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Maddie
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Can you still enjoy the story past Christmas and through the Epiphany? Maybe that would take some pressure off of you. I never read the Christmas Mystery, so not sure if that will work.
I'm behind on our Jesse Tree too.
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SuzanneG
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I don't keep to the "daily-thing"....we just read whenever / wherever we can. Sometimes it's not at all, sometimes a few chapters.
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Erin
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Maddie wrote:
| Can you still enjoy the story past Christmas and through the Epiphany? Maybe that would take some pressure off of you. |
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That's a really great idea
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Mackfam
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I don't keep to schedules either. I have a few books I like to read on special Feasts - St. Nicholas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucia, the Nativity story illustrated by Ruth Sanderson. Other books I just do my best. I don't mind at all if we're still reading on some things after Christmas...particularly some of the books you mentioned, Books.
A few years ago I was feeling like Advent reading was losing some of its "special-ness" because I was trying to find a place for it between laundry and lunch...so I moved Advent reading and Advent hymns or chant to right after evening prayers. The kids get to stay up a half hour later and they really cherish this time. It's so special with the fire blazing and all of us, including daddy, together. The children are VERY protective of this time so they don't let me miss it. I feel more relaxed because the day's work is basically done for me...dinner is done, clean-up accomplished, the children do a quick tidy before prayers. It helps to relax me so I can enjoy the moment. This probably won't work for everyone, but I thought I'd share it because it has really helped me in being more faithful and relaxed about our Advent reading while giving it a special place in the day. Maybe there's something here you can tweak for your family routines?
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Natalia
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Books,
We are in our third attempt with Bartholomew's Passage and we are already behind. I am determined to find out how the book ends but I decided I am going to treat it as a regular read aloud and do it when we can. I don't want to stress out about it. So, see? you are not alone...
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Bookswithtea
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Well, I feel better now. At least I'm in good company!
I love the evening idea, but due to dh's work schedule, our evenings won't accomodate an end of the night reading. However, I could try to just finish it by reading through Epiphany. I was going to read The Trees Kneel at Christmas over the 12 Days of Christmas, but I could give that to the older girls to read to themselves during Advent. That might work. I think maybe I am particularly enamored of the picture books myself. They are on display in bookstands on our mantle and piano (these are the up-high-no-toddlers-can-reach places for my seasonal displays). I think I just love picture books so much. The Advent readers feel almost painful to me. Its not that I don't love the stories. I do! Its just that the readings are soooooooo loooooooonnnnggg that it feels sometimes like trying to finish a family rosary with a crowd of 3 yr olds, kwim? 
I didn't know there is a version of the Christmas Mystery on audiobook. I need to look into that!
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Blessings,
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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KackyK
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Elizabeth had a great article this week in the Herald entitled Give Up!
Read it and your worries will dissipate for sure! It made me relax! Glad I read it at the start of Advent! So chapter we were "suppose to read" will wait with no guilt!
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Bookswithtea
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KackyK wrote:
Elizabeth had a great article this week in the Herald entitled Give Up!
Read it and your worries will dissipate for sure! It made me relax! Glad I read it at the start of Advent! So chapter we were "suppose to read" will wait with no guilt! |
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 I read that last night. It was very good. I'm thinking about maybe getting the audiobook for the kids to listen to at their leisure and then continuing on with the picture books.
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Blessings,
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Paula in MN
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I used to stress out about it because my kids are not here every night. Now, we just read what we can, and finish up on Christmas or a day or two later!
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Paula
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Advent readers...what am I doing wrong?
