Hi, I'm Zibi Owens, and you're listening to Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books.

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Hi, moms don't have time to read books, listeners. I'm trying something a little differently today.

I wrote an article recently called Moving On Up about the end of the school year and how I felt about my son moving on.

And I thought since it had gotten a lot of positive reactions when I sent it around

that I would read it and maybe you guys could listen to it and tell me what you think. But a lot of

people have cried afterwards, so maybe grab a tissue or two. And I hope you like it. I would love

to hear your thoughts on if I should read some essays on the podcast or if I should stick

just to authors. I'm always up for trying something new, but not if everybody hates it.

So my email is Zibi at Zibbyowens.com or you can direct message me on Instagram at Zibby

Owens and let me know what you think of this. But here's my essay. It's called Moving

On Up, A Mother Says Goodbye to Her Little Boy and Hello to Her Young Man. I published it on

Medium. Life has been hurtling through spring at warp speed. Between attending my four kids' end-of-school

year parties, organizing camp forms, producing my podcast, moms don't have time to read books,

and hosting book events, I've been going, going, going. Each day is packed. From the time I give my younger son his morning hay fever eyedrops to my final Instagram check of the night. It's exciting and energizing to be doing so many things I love. But something happened recently that made my express train lurched to a halting stop. I got an email from my fifth grade

son's teacher letting me know that he would be on stage performing in the school chapel the next

morning. A little advance notice would have been nice, but so it goes in hashtag mom life. I pushed back

two podcasts, lined up my mom to take my little guys to school, and carved out the time to be there,

of course. My son's school

gives students different roles in the weekly chapel, readers, a snuffer who lights and puts out

the candles with a giant gold rod, and someone who rings a gong. The chapel service is a lovely

...