“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”
― C.S. Lewis
Opening Thought
Tonight, our 10 year old son didn’t want to sleep because he “wanted to keep reading.”
I would NOT have believed that sentence 2 years ago.
2021 was when I realized “Mommy reading to them at night” was tender, bonding and sweet, but it wasn’t satiating the mental appetite their developing minds were capable of digesting.
So, I made a new rule: bedtime is now 30 min earlier *insert groans and agonized moaning* and the only thing you’re allowed to do before falling asleep… is read.
As most EVERYTHING is, the process of trial/error/readjustments/improvisations/fine tuning began.
I had to help facilitate a good reading environment, give individual incentives, enforce the rules with stringent consistency and then load and reload their bedside tables with a potpourri of parent approved literature.
*back to tonight*
I watched him lay down in his bed, lamp on, favorite bookmark on standby, pillows situated, book held in a particular manner he has deemed; “the best way to read in bed”…
…And I felt so much warmth and hope for him.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss
Follow Up
In less than a year our 10 year old has finished a 12 book *legit* chapter series (and is now on a sub series from the same author) and I have happily paid him $ for every book.
Why?
1) Money motivates him.
2) I am motivated to get him reading.
It is a worthwhile investment, and I am already reaping the rewards.
Which include but are not limited to:
-A larger vocabulary, and better understanding of words meanings and when to use them.
-A higher self esteem. (accomplishment and payment per book helps quantify his efforts)
-More topics/thoughts/feelings/ideas in his conversational repertoire.
-Ability to recognize and emote feelings has increased.
-He is motivated by good, relatable protagonist role models.
-He aspires to obtain qualities found in healthy hero characters.
-He knows what he can reach for when he’s “bored.”
-The house is quieter. 😉
*I am already forming the pre-teen/teen/young adult lists of books I’d like the kids to read before they leave our nest.
Each completed book will come with a post script discussion and a subsequent reward (tailored to whatever motivates each child most at the time)
I want to send them into the world exposed to many different ideas, personalities and stories, standing on a stack of books with the habit of continual learning embedded like muscle memory.
(Hit me up if you think there are books you WISH you had read sooner in life, I’m all eyes!)
It is an investment. A cost I would work overtime to afford.
We alone cannot teach our children everything, we are just one. But we can leverage ourselves with the voices of others, let important truths echo in different plot lines, use fiction or non to expose them to concepts which help them become equipped and empowered to find ANY answer and consider ANY angle concerning their unique and precious life.
To have REAL impact, I’ve learned I must “walk the walk” and be a forever student alongside them.
So I make conscious effort to feed my brain daily with good intentions full of flavor!
Example
I too was reading tonight, and my mind was certainly affected!
I saw this book was “all the rage” in some circles and my turn in the queue was up, so I put a pin in other books I’ve been working through and devoted the day to this particular novel!
The book was: slow, intriguing, confusing, gross and depressing.
I LOVED the writing… (I’m talking go back over certain phrases because they were so beautiful) kind of LOVE.
but…
I didn’t take the time to vet any details of the rollercoaster when I stepped in line to ride. Which meant I was not emotionally prepared for the dark scary themes.
“Horror” is a genre I don’t delve into often, and I was reminded why again tonight! Haha!
I almost couldn’t find the mental space to finish this post I began earlier in the day.
I did make a few authors proud though. According to them:
“Read what agrees with you, but read the disagreeable stuff – times two. Either you will be reinforced or, perhaps, persuaded.”
― Keith J. Caserta
It was disagreeable. I was not persuaded.
“Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read!“
― William Faulkner
Ok Mr.Faulkner. I did. and maybe I learned a little more about poetic phrasing woven in long form writing.
Or maybe I just learned that my eyeball will dissolve if exposed to certain chemicals… so that’s cool.
The Wrap Up
“If you would tell me the heart of a man, tell me not what he reads, but what he rereads.”
― Francois Mauriac
If you want to see the list of books I’ve read and re read, (tonight’s book omitted) just click on the tab on the home page which reads: “book goldmine”
Till next time dear readers.
Love in,
Love out,
Repeat.
-Aubrey
“A Cleverly Named Blog” with Aubrey 