As an elementary teacher, I loved reading to my students. I loved when my students read to me. I loved when the parents read to my students. I just love reading! When I packed up my classroom to move to New Jersey, I counted my books. I have a lot. In fact, I have over 500 books for children! I bought most of these books with my own money - just ask John.
Shortly after Porgie was born, I started reading her books from my collection. Unfortunately, she does not like most of my books. They are just too long and boring (I taught third grade). So, she will have lots of books to read when she gets older.
Instead, Porgie loves simple, repetitive books. I went out and bought her some great children's books, by authors like Eric Carle and Mem Fox. At first she liked them, but overtime she started getting bored. When I would sit down to read to her, she would whine and flail around in my arms.
I decided it was time to get some new books. Last week, I took Porgie to the book store and we looked at lots of different books. I would read her a few pages and show her the pictures. She seemed rather bored and disinterested in nearly every book I wanted to buy her.
Then I saw a board book with Elmo on the front. I showed it to her, and she smiled. I started reading the book, and she excitedly slapped the pages. This book was awful. The writing was boring and ignorant. There was no plot or theme, just Elmo Elmo Elmo. I didn't want this book. I wanted the literature with rich words and engaging story lines.
As I watched Porgie grin with delight, I had to buy the damn Elmo book. Now at bed time, I try to read Porgie the books I like first, but she will whine and whine and whine until I read that stupid ass Elmo book. I have to read it THREE times every night. Why Porgie? WHY?
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Dear Mom,
I am the new boss in this town - get use to it!
Love,
Porgie
1 comment:
You can't make babies do anything, can you? That's the big lesson of motherhood that I have learned.
Mine isn't into books really either (of course we haven't tried Elmo! Your baby is already being swayed by commercialism! HA!)
We try, but we can barely get through a board book, much less a Beatrix Potter before she starts wriggling away. We have SO MANY BOOKS for her, too, in English and Swedish. Both my husband and I are big readers (well, I USED to be, anyway, before Baby). I'm a language teacher for crying out loud--I wish I could get her into the written word!
Hopefully mine and yours will like them later.
If it helps, I read that it's the number of books in the house, not the actual reading of them, that correlates to smarter children.
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