As they say, “the apple does not fall far from the tree.” This most definitely applies to our parent(s) as one of our most influential reading role models.
Whether it was the tradition of reading a story aloud before bedtime or recalling your mom or dad always bringing a book on a family vacation, these little habits made a surprisingly huge impact on our reading habits today as adults.
In celebration of yesterday’s holiday, Parents Day, I asked our OOM bloggers, “Did your parent(s) pass on any interesting reading lessons or habits that you practice today?” Check out some of the amazing answers below:
Megan:
“My mom is a crazy eclectic reader—she is always reading at least 3 books at the same time, all different genres. I just texted her to ask what she's reading right now and it's Gone Girl, a biography of Winston Churchill and Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin. So I'd say she taught me to consider all kinds of books and to read widely. My dad reads the paper every evening and has done this since I was a little girl. They both have always modeled really good reading behavior and I so appreciate it now.”
Morgan:
“Lesson from my dad: try new genres. As a kid, I read the same books over and over — which is important for development, yes, but at some point you have to branch out. He would encourage me to read books like The Hobbit, which I normally would have ignored. As an adult I've learned that some of my favorite books are classified as genres I normally don't read.”
Brittany:
“For as long as I have known him, my dad has always been a relentless reader; stocking our home library with Stephen King, Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. He instilled in me a passion for reading and never shying away from four-inch thick, 1,000 page novels. They’re worth the commitment.”
Lia:
“My parents taught me the importance of reading from a young age, and part of that came from growing up in a home full of books. I think it’s because of them that I’m fascinated by home book collections. If I’m a guest somewhere, I love sneaking peeks at people’s shelves! Thanks to them, I’ve made it my goal to develop a really solid book collection.”
Deimosa:
"My father is the person who got me hooked on comics. He would put the Batman comic book down on the table in front of me and tell me to read it so that we could discuss."
Melissa:
“In elementary school, I somehow picked up the idea that only big, serious books counted as “real” reading. But my mom helped me see things differently. By following her own passion for mystery and romance novels, and by encouraging me to check out as many The Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High books as I wanted, she taught me that real reading is anything that engages you and makes you happy. I still plan to tackle War and Peace one of these days, but it will be because I love Russian literature, not because I think it’s the only thing that can make me a real reader.”
As for me, my mother taught me the tradition to “paying it forward” with reading. After she finished a book, she always passed on the book to a friend or a family member to share her experience. This book exchange taught me to open my mind to new authors, genres and literary tastes. To this day, my mom and I exchange books all of the time. It’s a great way to connect, even when we live in different states.
What reading life lesson or habit did your parents instill in you? Share in the comments below.
If you know me at all, you know 
This post originally appeared on OOM last summer, but Bustle's recent post on "
I grew up a dancer and a gymnast, with my parents shuttling me and my sisters back and forth from rehearsals to recitals to competitions. But when competitive dance lost its luster and gymnastics became way too consuming (and expensive), cheerleading was the perfect solution: I didn't have to travel to some special studio four towns away, and I could still dance and flip and perform like I wanted. But there was always a stigma. Being a cheerleader often means having to be on the defense—from accusations of being ditzy, silly, dumb, obsessed with popularity. We ran miles and lifted weights and competed all winter long, but there was no denying being a cheerleader has certain connotations.
The good news is, I've read several books recently that show me that cheerleading in young adult literature has come a long way. Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers, for example, has a main character who has just quit the cheerleading team for reasons she can't yet disclose to the reader. Just like Cooney's series, this book is ripe with cheerleader characters who are fully fledged and respected. Another recent book about cheerleading I loved is Dare Me by Megan Abbot, which features an intensely competitive cheer squad, rife with politics, but in a way that feels completely authentic. 
