Confessions of a Reading Mom
Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 11:02AM A note came home from the teacher yesterday. It said my son was reading in class instead of doing research. I was stunned. He was reading? Reading? Yes! At first I didn’t understand that the teacher meant this to be a bad thing. That this was a “I’m sending a note home to your mother” note. After all, I had written her emails, set up meetings, spoken to her in the hallway . . . all to discuss possible tactics to lure him into a book. I thought she meant it as a note of success!
Apparently not.
The truth is my son had to explain to me that this was a reprimand. I totally didn’t get it. The note was in his homework folder. I thought his homework was to do the research since he hadn't done it in class and he could forgo the usual homework of reading for 20 minutes.
But no.
I am a rule follower. Always have been. But NOT ‘always will be.’ The older I get, the more I realize that the rules, though intended to guide and order, also confine. Sometimes rules are needlessly self-imposed. There’s a whole other world out there if you step outside them. I’m a little late to the game in realizing this. For my son, that world includes a book called Just Annoying. It was a book I’d picked out for him . . . hoping . . . fingers crossed . . . that it might capture his interest. (The author has another book titled The Day My Butt Went Psycho. And I will get it if there’s a chance it can open my son’s heart to reading.)
I’m not going to tell my son to break the rules. I’m not that kind of mom. But right or wrong, I said, clearly and concisely, eye to eye: I’m not mad about this.
Now go out there and read!
Reader Comments (4)
I used to sneak reading in class all the time, but it was during math, not research. And I'm wondering how does a 7 year old research? But I guess the expectations for elementary students should be a subject for another day...
I need to get those titles for Luci. Maybe she'll like reading better!
Definitely worth a try, Larissa! I'm all for most any type of book that will get young kids reading. As you know, I'm a Cpt. Underpants fan just for this reason!
Way to go Anise!!!!!
Of all this to get reprimanded for, that one ain't so bad. You are one heck of a mother, if that is how your son gets in trouble!!