read to my son every night

I thought I was about to mark this “Worth Doing!” because my son is almost 11 and reads to himself every night now.

However…I just had another baby in July, so I’ll be working at this for the next ten years again.

Just do it

I really want to read to my son every night, but some nights I forget and sometimes a few days go by that I don’t read a book to him. Maybe moving his books to a place where I will notice them will remind me to read to him. I think it may work.

My son is 15 and I’ve read to him every night of his life (with rare exceptions) and he still enjoys it. Right now, we’re reading the Harry Potter series. This time between us has been special and I’ve never tired of watching him drift off to sleep. We’ve had the most amazing conversations. Its been the time when he’s most willing to open up about things that concern him, stuff that’s happened to him. And just recently, we’ve begun talking about plans for the following day as well.

My daughter is 10 and I’ve read to her (or she’s read to me) every night as well. With her, I’m reading Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. As with my son, she seems to enjoy ‘alone time’ with Mom and confides in me about her day, about her friends, about the things that worry her.

I wouldn’t trade that time for anything—and yes, sometimes its cost me. I have to stay up later. I don’t get as much done. But its worth it. REALLY worth it.

Last night I almost didn’t read to him, rushing off to go for walk by myself. He looked up at me in the dusk of his room, with big sad eyes. “Tomorrow...can we read ‘The World Beneath’ http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060530650/qid=1121794885/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/102-4302327-1500911?v=glance&s=books&n=507846? Because you said you’d read to me tonight.”

Glunk went my heart. The walk went out the window. The book was read. And I’m so glad.

Finished up chapter one of “Henry and Ribsy” last night. Will Henry be able to keep Ribsy out of trouble for two whole months? Uh-oh, looks like Ribsy’s going to get into some garbage in chapter two….

I read to the Bug at least once a week, sometimes more, but not nightly. Sometimes I’m working. Sometimes I’m crabby and tired. Sometimes it’s just too late. But he loves it and I usually do too.

Last night we started “Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang” by Mordecai Richler. I read it to the Bug four years ago, but he was just four and doesn’t remember it. We read 3.5 chapters and he was grinning the whole time.

What mother could pass up that?

I read to my children (a daughter & a son) nearly every night as they were growing up. I learned this from my own parents, who would read us stories & poems, sometimes sing, & always pray with us at bedtime. It became the most important time of the day in my life & then in my children’s. Their defenses were down as they listened & got sleepy, & sometimes they would start to talk about their problems or ask amazing questions.

Daughter: Why do angels always carry torches? [not British flashlight but U.S. meaning: upright flaming light]

Mom: [amazed but maintaining calm demeanor] Hm, I didn’t know they did that. Have you seen an angel?

Daughter: Yes, when I ran around the corner . . . [I won’t break her confidence by telling the rest of the story.]

If you have children, reading to them at bedtime is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. When someone I know has a baby, my gift is always a couple of books.