Read, Read, Read!

One of my favorite time of the day was an hour before I put Caleb to bed. Not only I could finally have some time to my self, but I enjoyed this special bonding time with him.

Like every parent out there, I dreamed of teaching my children how to read by the age of 2. I fantasized about taking them to a bookstore, and just have them run straight to the children's section and spend the whole afternoon there.

Or, I envisioned trips to the library, and have them read books by Hemingway by the first grade.

I didn't remember the simple rule that in order for them to develope a love for reading, I had to teach them how to read--in other words, living through a stage of reading to them, sometimes the same book, over, and over, and over, and over, and over again.

Still, I loved it when Caleb would bring me his favorite books, and demanded me to read to him. We would cuddle on the couch, and just flip open book after book. Even though he couldn't read the books on his own, he would memorize every line. The best part was when he would flip open these books with his sister and would read to her, all from his 2-year-old language and memory.

Then I realized, I didn't really want him to read Hemingway by the first grade. I just wanted him to appreciate books, the way I did when I was just a child. I wanted him to know that in the world of books, imaginations could run wild, and peace and sometimes much-needed solitude can be found. Also, he would look back one day, and remembered that he has loved books ever since he was still in diapers.