Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Is this a terrible parenting plan?

So, somewhere around Christmas, my eldest turned the corner in terms of her reading ability. Now, she'll sit on the couch for an hour at a time, completely silent, absorbed in a novel.

Which leaves me thinking, How soon can I teach the other three to read too? They could all be sitting quietly on the couch reading. QUIETLY. For an HOUR.

Does that make me a bad mom?


Peace of Christ to you,

Jessica Snell

8 comments:

Tienne said...

NO! It makes you an awesome one!

My favorite Berenstain Bears is the one where Sister is afraid of the dark, because after they go to the library (AS A FAMILY) they sit down in the living room for some reading time (AS A FAMILY!)

Every time I get to that page I think...someday...that will be us, and it will be glorious.

Nina said...

Hi Jessica. I have three grown boys who I homeschooled for the first few years of their education. My experience was that you can teach children (or maybe I should say boys - since I've heard they differ from girls in this respect) to read young with a lot of focus or and perhaps frustration for the child and parent or you can wait until they are a little older and ready and they will learn to read in a matter or weeks or months and be on par with the earlier set but less frustrated with the whole process. BUT....now you have a reader who can practice by reading to her siblings and provide another good example of the joys of reading to them.

Happy reading!

Ma Torg said...

Ha ha! I feel the exact same way! Mary has now started reading with gusto and I am jumping up in joy! That makes TWO readers now! Silence is very sweet when you homeschool.

Daniel "Captain" Kirk said...

12 yos is just getting to the point where he reads somewhat fluently. I'm still waiting, hoping, and praying for enthusiastic reading.

becca said...

This post is, perhaps, as quintessentially Jessica as I imagine a post could be.

Wendy said...

I have 6 kids and we only let them stay up in the evening when they are old enough to read quietly...

That's usually 6 or 7, but they are highly motivated!

MomCO3 said...

Once you have, let's trade kids for a week, okay?

Ruthie said...

Ha! Jackson is just on the edge of this; he can read well, but it's just enough work for him still that he doesn't read unless he's told to, but he could listen to stories for hours so I know he'll be immersed. Can't wait!