When Noah was in kindergarten, I was a first time parent in a haze of bliss thinking my child was brilliant and happy and so smart. Imagine my shock when half way through the year the teacher sent a note home saying that kids who were "readers" were welcome to bring a book in to read to the class. I raced to the phone, called my friend and asked, "there are kids who can read in that class?" I had no idea. I had two little ones at home so wasn't able to get into the classroom on a regular basis. Noah couldn't read. All of a sudden I started to worry. He still wasn't reading half way through first grade. Everyone kept telling me, "it will just click", "he'll catch up", or "he'll be fine." Problem was, I wasn't fine. I was worried sick.
Of course he did learn to read. He's now a voracious reader. Last June he asked us when he'd be able to watch the Lord of the Rings movies. Jason told him when he was old enough to read and understand the books. Noah said he'd try. Jason then added he had to start with The Hobbit first. Jason winked at me and said that would keep him busy at least until junior high. Not so. The Hobbit was done in no time and he started in on the trilogy. He plowed through it. He dragged those massive books everywhere. I questioned how much he was actually comprehending, and Jason would occasionally ask him questions about the books. I would walk in on discussions of Middle Earth, Gandolph and elves. Jason assured me Noah was getting it all.
He finished all four books in about three months. Dad now had to pay up. Time for the movie. For the last month or so, Jason and Noah will watch an hour of the movies every few nights. They love it. Not sure what they will do once the nine hours of movies are done. Every time I see Noah enjoying his special time with his dad, it reminds me of how determined he was to read those books. And to think I worried the child would never read!
Now to get Alanya to read. Any day now things are supposed "to click" according to her teacher.
(Sigh)
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