Reading With the Kids

I used to read to the kids every night before I sent them to bed. We read all the Junie B. Jones books, and the Magic Treehouse Books, and the ABC Mysteries. The kids loved it and so did I. But it just kept getting harder and harder. The books that I wanted to read to the older kids were too long for the little ones and the picture books for the little ones were a little too simple for my older kids. For a while I tried reading some for each level, a couple of picture books for the little kids, and a chapter of a longer book for the older ones. I still liked reading to the kids but this method took soooo long and by the end I was always yelling at someone to stop screaming or grabbing my head or something or I was desparately trying to keep my eyes open and not fall asleep. I felt like it defeated the purpose of feel good read-aloud time. It was too hard, so I just stopped.

But I missed it. I missed talking to the kids about the books and discussing the stories. I felt like I hardly ever read to the little kids (I read a ton to Kate and Mary when they were little, I couldn't think of anything else to do). And I missed keeping up on the different series for kids that was easy to do when I was reading them for bedtime.

So I started little again. I began reading to Ruth, Lily, and Adam before naptime. But instead of reading to them all together, I read a short story to them individually, while they lay in their beds. I let them choose, and if they chose a chapter book, I would only read one chapter. I remembered how much I really enjoyed reading to the kids when they weren't being so crazy. And I felt that maybe it was offsetting some of the times when I was frustrated and got upset with them for being crazy during the day. Hopefully, it gave them something good to remember me for.

And then when our baby Hope died, I realized I needed to spend a little more quality time with each of the kids. But I also realized that it would have to be something that I enjoy or it wouldn't last. I love to read. So I asked Kate, Mary, and Emma if they'd like me to read them books at night. I told them that they could pick whatever book they wanted, but that I was only reading a chapter a night. They seemed surprised, but they each wanted to do it. They chose books and we started doing it.

I just go around each night and read each of the kids a story or chapter as they are laying in their beds. It still takes a long time, but the kids aren't being crazy (usually) and I'm moving around so I hardly ever fall asleep. And I think that sometimes it actually helps the little kids to fall asleep, because they listen to their own story and then to the story of the sibling they share a room with. And with Kate, Mary and Emma, I've been able to read some books that I've wanted to read and just haven't found the time for. Finally, it has also given us a few minutes each night for them to talk to me if they want to. I also started reading a story from The Friend (in place of their regular stories) on Sundays and we've had some great gospel discussions.

I have to be honest and say that I only average about 3-4 times a week of doing this. Other nights I have things I have to go to, or sometimes I'm just too tired. But overall I've felt really good about the whole experience. I still kind of miss the fun of being able to discuss a story with the whole family (I've got some great stories about things the kids have said while reading stories as a family) but I'll have to give that up for now. It has also reminded me how adaptive you have to be as a parent. What works one time may not work the next month or the next year. You just have to enjoy whatever it is while it works, and be willing to change when it doesn't.

One funny new development is that Kate has decided she wants to read me excerpts from things she's reading. That's fun too. And nice (but I can't promise I won't fall asleep).

Well, I'm finally finishing some of the books I've been reading them and I can't wait to see what they choose next.