read to my kids more

It’s the curriculum I bought the kids for school this year. The main part of this program is reading so I am doing a lot of that now. It’s a definite improvement over “maybe later” or “wait till mommy’s done”. Now I don’t have excuses to be lazy here, it’s part of our school work every day and they love it! (at least that part, writing class is “boring”)

Last night, for a change, instead of reading to the kids, the kids read to us. It was very very nice. The big kids took turns, and although we were up past bedtime, we all loved it.

Last night was a good night for reading to the kids. Brian had to work late, so after the little ones had a bath, they all piled into our bed and we read for a few mintues.

It was nice and very relaxing.. for everyone. They seemed to sleep better too.. or was that my imagination?

I’ve been making time to read to the kids almost daily. It helps that their Elm. school is running a incentive to encourage reading. The kids are challenged to read 400 minutes a month. They met their goal in October and are doing pretty well with November already.

I’m trying to encourage more independant reading as well. :)

Well so much for the write every day theory. I’ve been reading to the kids almost every day.. then I got the Sore Throat From Hell. And haven’t been up to reading today…

On Friday I took a trip to the local library and got a basketful of books for the kids and myself. I’ve been reading from this pile and we’re all really enjoying it. Some titles we like are: Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems; Good Boy Fergus by David Shannon; and for the older ones, the Box Car Children series.

I thought I’d pick something not scary as my first challenge. I used to read to the kids all the time, and since things have gotten busy, I’ve let it go.
My plan is to submit an entry every day until this goal becomes a habit, at which time, I’ll eat a lot of chocolate, and be thrilled to not have to give up my favorite vice.

The players in my true story:
Laura—played by myself, a 28 year old mother of three. We’re expecting baby number four in January.
Brian—my husband of 10 years.
Charlie—our gorgeous 8 year old son
Libby—our lovely 7 year old daughter
Katy—our precious 4 year old daughter

Tonight Brian is taking Charlie to a Boy Scout function, a Corn Maze, as a matter of fact, and I am at home with the chicas. I’ve been sick with a cold for two days and can barely talk. I’m planning on starting to read to them tonight, but perhaps I should have picked something less.. vocal as my first challenge?

MY SON LOVES ONE BOOK IN PARTICULAR, IT’S THE MOST AMAZING THING TO SEE A ONE YEAR OLD WANT TO SIT DOWN AND READ. I MEAN FOR SOMETHING SO PRECIOUS TO BE INSTILLED IN A CHILD FROM SO YOUNG IN AGE IS TRUELY BEAUTIFUL.

I’ve been doing really well with this. I keep a basket with Rohan’s books next to my seat on the couch so it’s easy for me to grab one at random moments. He doesn’t like to read for too long, anyway. He usually lets me get through one then squirms out of my arms.

I’ve been reading to Ashlan quite a bit as well. We’re reading These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We love that series.

I read to Ashlan for quite a while tonight, but not Rohan. I always forget to read to him during the day. Tomorrow I’m going to make a point of doing it earlier in the day instead of waiting until the evening.

Read to both kiddos again today.