Passing the Torch

When I was pregnant with Sarah, I read approximately 34 books on pregnancy and 12 books on parenting. We were going to raise her "by the book". If I could talk to my past-self, today, I would say, "Delusional Anne, take a breath. Those books all have contradicting themes. You are going to harm yourself trying to be the best, firm, soft, rule-oriented, lax, natural, hi-tech mother around."

One good thing I DID take away from all that literature was the urgency to teach my children to read. What a huge gift reading has been in my life. If I could teach my children to love doing anything, it would be reading.

Matt understood that he wouldn't be able to escape my pregnant dreams of perfection, so he promptly began reading to Sarah in the womb. Dr. Suess, Robotics and Design, Dilbert cartoons...these were all favorites (Matt's Favorites). He was so patient and understanding and compliant, my Matt. Maybe he feared for his life. I guess I was a little intimidating as a pregnant, first-time mom.

Anyway, after Sarah was born, I continued to read to her. And read. And read. By the time Sarah was 21 months, she had memorized one of her favorite books and could "read" it to anyone. The Hair Book, by Dr. Suess. I was so proud. She would sit in her rocking chair, with a basket of books at her feet and pore through them. Then she would start all over again.

I was practically neurotic about making sure I read to BOTH children after Joseph was born. He didn't seem as interested, and didn't like to be held as much, so as soon as he learned to climb down from my lap, he was off doing his Joseph thing. I figured as long as he was in the same room and hearing the same words, maybe it would still instill that desire to learn. Joseph reads books now, but only by himself.

When Thomas was born, I am afraid I let time escape me. I rarely had time to read. But even when I did, Thomas had ZERO desire to hold still. He would rip the book out of my hand after the first page and chuck it across the room. Thomas further displayed his dissatisfaction with the written word by swiping his arm down the bookshelf, at least three times a day, to knock all the books on the floor. Then he would dance on them. Uh-huh. This really happened.

I tried to read to Nate. I really did. But he liked the taste of books more than the sound of my voice. Of the library of books we had, there was an attrition rate of nearly 25% whenever I tried to read to him. Only recently did he realize that books were enjoyable. Now, he will walk over to the bookcase, pick out one of his little chubby board books and find the nearest, breathing mammal. He will back on up (he should come with a warning sound) and sit down without looking at his target. He sat on Thomas' head three times last week. Just recently, though, Nathan found the perfect lap. A well-trained tongue, if you will.

Yes, I know he is as big as she is. But she loves the audience and he loves the books! There is almost nothing so sweet as hearing Sarah read to her brothers. Now, even Joseph and Thomas bring her books. My sweet, sweet girl. I'd like to think that it was my insistance that provoked her brilliance. But now I know that I can't teach or force that. I am just grateful that she is so generous with her gift.