I’m Raising a Reader


Let’s be clear.  My small people have more athletic ability in their pinkie toes than I do in my entire body.

My brief, but traumatic, athletic career included a broken knee cap, a broken wrist, a sprained knee, a sprained wrist, three broken fingers, a concussion and a knocked out front tooth. All by the time I was nine.  It is, therefore, no surprise that I still duck when I see a ball coming my way AND my five year old son is apt to correct my form.

And by correct, I mean roll his eyes and then approach me slowly to actually SHOW me how it is supposed to be done.  And this includes all sports.  I have been coached on throwing a baseball, kicking a soccer ball, and RUNNING.  I am a sad, sad specimen of an athletic wannabe mom.

So the small people who excel at all-things-ball-bat-and-running related?  I, at times, have feared their DNA does not include ANYTHING from me.

Well, I did fear that. But not anymore.

I am raising a READER.  And you know what?  Excuse me while I yell this from the top of my house: She gets that from me.

My small girl started to read in Kindergarten. Last year, in first grade, she developed an aptitude for it and began to ask for books. But, at the time, she still preferred to have me read TO her.  But now…. that has changed.  Books are first on her list of, ‘may I please have’….AND she now begs to read TO ME.

And even better?  This picture was taken today.  She curled up on my bed with a book of her choosing and she read peacefully.  She is on page 220 of a chapter book she started on Friday.  **beams with pride**

At her age, I LOVED to read.  At bedtime, I used to sneak into the bathroom, faking a tummy ache, just to continue to be lost in one story after another. And now?  Guess who is turning her light back on to read after lights out?

Maybe we do share a little DNA.

 

  • Melissa

    I was the same way as a girl! What an awesome thing to pass down…be proud, mama!

  • http://www.312digital.com Sean McGinnis

    Where’s the love button! My 9 year old is a voracious reader, and I love it! I’m more convinced than ever that communication skills will be even more important in our society 20+ years from now.

  • Meredithsinclair

    I love this post D!

    We often just ponder all the bad habits our little people must be picking up from us, so I say SHOUT it from the rooftops!  YOU raised a reader!  Woo-HOO!

    Well done girl!
    xo

  • Danielle Smith

    Melissa – thank you so much!  I am proud – and I know my MOM is too – I would be so sad if the didn’t love it :)

  • Danielle Smith

    Oh Mer – you are so right – I can always pick out the less-than-favorable behaviour they have adopted from me…. so to be able to pass on something that is so rich and beautiful>  Well, it is priceless!  Thank you, friend!  

  • Danielle Smith

    Sean – I will just settle for telling you I love you for this comment!  Thank you so very much.  This may seem like a little thing…. but it makes my heart sing.  And I agree with you – these and other communication skills are going to be crucial for our small people.

  • http://www.312digital.com Sean McGinnis

    Know what’s been great? I gave him a hand-me-down Kindle and loaded it up with all the classics for free! He’s read White Fang, Swiss Family, War of the Worlds, a handful of Oz books, all for $0. Worth the price of a new Kindle right there. Awesome!

  • Danielle Smith

    Sean – what a remarkable idea – I’m going to file that away as an option.  I *still* have almost all of my classics – can’t wait to pass them down.  And maybe reread them :)

  • Jenny

    Books are awesome! Congratulations on raising a reader.

  • Danielle Smith

    Thank you so much, Jenny!  She finished a book just today and refused to start another one so she could *remember* this one for a test.  I couldn’t even get mad when she was slow moving up the stairs to change out of her school clothes b/c she didn’t want to put her book down :)