We do a lot of reading in our house. I’ve always loved to read. I have tons of books on my “reading list” plus my monthly magazines. And I’ve always considered reading to be very important for the kids.

I try to read before bed every night. I’m not always good at getting my reading time in, but I give it the old college try. [Well the college try minus the excessive drinking, heated petting and bra tossing.] And I try to let the kids see me reading [you know, modeling...not fashion modeling...but modeling behaviour like those parenting books are always talking about]. I read my magazines while I’m cooking dinner and sometimes I read on the couch while the kids do their homework [or color] at the kitchen table.

Now that Skyler & Spencer are in kindergarten they visit the IMC (school library) every day. So we try to read their books every night. There are a couple of nights when it gets too late for reading (like tonight since Spencer had wrestling practice until 7:30pm), but we usually read two or three books a night. Sometimes all five kids sit on the couch with me and listen to the book I’m reading. It’s pretty cool to read to my kids. And actually see them listening.

On Monday night Skyler read to me. Yep, she can read. It was one of those easy readers where they repeat the words over and over.
I see the orange fish. I see the red fish. I see the blue fish.
Each of the colors was in that color so it made it a little easier, but that doesn’t matter. Skyler read the book. I was so impressed I had her read it to daddy. I’m so proud of her. It’s so cool to see how much both she and Spencer are learning in kindergarten.

Three years ago we started forcing asking Keaton and Justis to read for thirty minutes every night. We let them take the weekend nights off, but on most week nights they read. They have quite a few books in their room and they both check out books from the school library.

In the beginning they really fought this new routine. They did not want to read at all. Let alone for thirty whole minutes. But now they don’t even argue. They just do it. In fact there are a couple of nights I have told them to just go to bed because it was getting close to 9pm (their bedtime) and they said “but we haven’t read yet.”

Tonight Keaton and Justis were sitting at the table reading their books and sharing a bag of popcorn. I looked in on them and I was amazed. It was so awesome to see them reading. And it was even more awesome to see them being quiet.

For thirty whole minutes they sat at the kitchen table, reading quietly with no fights. Not even a dirtly look. And this seemed like a small miracle after the night we had. The two of them were in constant fights all night. But when they were reading it was like those earlier fights never even happened.

I sat there in amazement and watched them read for a while. Not only was I thrilled that they were not fighting, but I was so excited to see Justis reading. I know Justis had books in Wisconsin (because I bought him quite a few and sent them up with him), but he also told me that when they moved out of Brian’s house the first time, they left his books behind. And I suspect he did not read much in Wisconsin. I’ve seen the research and I know how important it is to read. And I know how reading will help Justis succeed in school.

Sitting there watching Justis I realized I could already see a huge difference in him. He is getting in to reading. I can actually say with some certainty that he enjoys reading. A couple of months ago he was reading a book and on the back there was a review that compared the book to another book. Justis showed that to me and asked me to buy that book for him. I was so happy that he was showing interest in books and asking me to buy him books. So I, of course, bought it for him along with some other adventure books [his genre of choice].

Then I looked over at Keaton [who was reading The Day my Butt Went Psycho...whatever it takes to get them to read] and I could see that he was also enjoying reading. In fact, there are times I go in to Keaton’s room expecting to see him on his computer or fixated on the television. But to my surprise he’s laying on his bed reading. When he’s bored, he reads. And I think that’s great.

I’m so proud that the kids are excited about reading. I makes me so happy that I [and Lee] helped instill this great value in them. Just when you think you are failing miserably at your parenting duties because you can’t get your kids to stop calling each other stupid and telling each other to shut up, they go and show you they really do listen. Isn’t it a wonderful thing when your kids show you that you really are a good role model in their life?

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 27th, 2005 at 10:46 pm and is filed under A day in our life. Comments are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.