Raising a Reader

All parents hold their newborns close to the heart and dream dreams of what that child will grow to do.  First steps, first words, first day of school, and on and on.  We all have different hopes and dreams for what our children will do and who they will become.  Books and reading was always part of my vision for my children.  I adore that Theo's face glows when he discovers a book.  I love hearing Sam ask 100 times a day if he just made a rhyme.  I get giddy with excitement when Rob reads a word a little harder than ones he could read yesterday.  I smile to myself when I catch Ray sneaking a few more pages.  I love reading.  I love my boys.  And I especially love that my boys love reading.

So what is the downfall of this?  How could there be right?  When they just don't know when to stop!

Ray's third grade conference:  His teacher's biggest "complaint" was he that he just didn't know when to stop.  He was having to be told to put the book away.  Close the book.  Time to work.  Time to listen.  But even still, he just couldn't help himself.  It was as if the book was like a magnet that wouldn't stop pulling on him.  He doesn't even realize he's doing it.

I can't even begin to count the number of times a week I have to tell the boy to put the book away.  It's bedtime Ray, put the book down.  It's time to get out of bed Ray, put the book down.  We're ready to eat now Ray, put the book down.  Finish getting dressed Ray, put the book down.  We're ready to leave and you still don't have your shoes tied? Put the book down!

So when I got a call yesterday that Ray has having bus trouble, I immediately knew why.  I got a call that Ray was on a bus but wasn't sure if he was on the right bus, where was he suppose to go after school?  He was suppose to ride the bus to daycare.  That was the bus he had gotten on, but he hadn't gotten off.  He was so absorbed in his book that he rode right past his stop.  By the time he realized it, he panicked.  His brother was not there so he thought he was on the wrong bus.  Rob had been there, he just got off when was suppose to.  After a phone call or 4 by the bus company, they safely deposited him at daycare.

Sigh.  What am I gonna do with that kid?  Who'd thunk threatening to take all his books away would be the best threat I could think of?