"Read with me"

It's interesting to see young children so fascinated with life and learning. One of the librarians at our library says I'm lucky not to have to beg my kids to like books. She witnessed Camden (2 in Oct.) sitting down looking at a book one day. She was so surprised. I have to remind myself how we got to this point. I never force my kids to sit and read when they want to play. (In fact I've never used sitting as any type of punishment or unenjoyable experience.) I read to them at bedtime or sometimes during the day we'll read a book. I never go nutso if I am reading a a book they don't like and force them to sit thru it. If it is boring to them, it is boring to me too. Holden picks out his own picture books and has good taste in books. I pick out non-fiction books for them while they are doing puzzles at the library. I pick out books I know they will enjoy or find interesting. If it is not interesting I will fall asleep. And I never force myself to do something I don't enjoy. I know my kids will see thru it.

Lately, we've been doing a lot of cuddling indoors with movies and books. During the outdoor days we don't do much reading or movie watching. So this time of year does not seem so grueling or tedious. Once books and movies get boring we'll move into doing other fun indoor activities again.

Holden and I were cleaning and Camden helped for a bit then he found an airplane book. So he sat on the couch with it for a good while. Then he went upstairs and found another stack of books. So he put them on the bed and looked them over. After we finished cleaning he came to me with a shark book and said, "Read with me." Oh life can be so wonderful when kids are not coerced, controlled, or nagged!

By the way, I'm not anti-video game. We have an older Nintendo console, but Holden doesn't get into it. He likes computer games, but he is not too computer literate yet. No matter what my kids choose to enjoy I will support them. Right now they like reading and next week it may be something else.

Holden (almost 5) told me today he is going to live with me/us forever because he likes me. I wonder if he will feel the same in 10 years? I think as long as I keep treating his needs as valid and taking an interest in him, he will continue to like me as well. Not that I would expect or strive for him to want to live with us forever. But if a parent and child like and enjoy eachother, they can accomplish many great things together and experience a lot of joy in the process.