S is for Sharing the Important Moments

My friends have various feelings about motherhood and teaching-some have a stronger liking for the newborn period or maybe the preteen years, some love the days of Five in a Row and some can’t wait to get to the deeper studies.

So far I’m rather attached to all of it and, on the days I’m not ready to quit everything, I’m glad I get to enjoy a variety of ages and learning at the same time.

But I do think teaching a child to read is nothing short of magical.

This morning as Drummer Boy worked through his A Reader, I watched as…

…he worked slowly, hesitantly, through the first word and I hoped he wouldn’t give up.

…his pace quickened,  and I knew his confidence was growing, and I watched the small smile on his face and a secret look of wonder at himself.

…I mentioned how soon his little sister would be begging him to read her a book just like he’s begged his big sisters for the last five years.  The smile grew.

By this point the girls are gathered around, interjecting “I remember that!” because they sang the same songs, played the same games, and sat in my lap with the same readers.  We entered the world of books together and as I look at my boy I see the door opening that won’t ever close.

We have plenty of learning ahead of us but for me only a few other moments are as powerful as sharing the moment a child learns to read.

(I get to do it one more time.)