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ARTICLES FOR PARENTS OR TEACHERS
OF READING TREES AND RAISING KIDS
"Kids grow too fast. You blink and they're gone."
I've heard this said so many times I've lost count. Now that I have a high-school junior and a fifth-grader, I'm realizing the truth in it.
The reality doesn't sink in when you bring home your new-born and spend sleepless nights feeding and changing diapers. Or even when your toddler stirs up water in the toilet-bowl or marks your walls with lipstick. Not even when potty training drives you nuts.
Eventually, it does happen. You celebrate the first birthday and year after year zips by. Next thing you know, your teen is behind the wheel and your mind whirls with worry. Yup, your babies grow and then you wish time would slow down. It never does though. And over the years, I've learned some cherished truths.
Savor each day with your children. I used to think it was a chore driving to games, music recitals, parties, etc until one parent reminded me a time would come my children would be the ones driving themselves and I would no longer have the privilege of driving them around. That cured my "it's-a-chore" outlook fast. So enjoy being a driver - it won't be forever. And have fun watching the sunset or even having a water-balloon fight with them.
Make a journal capturing major events in their lives. Some moms write yearly birthday letters to their children - a chronicle of memorable or not so memorable happenings of the year. When they turn 18 or before they marry, their kids receive a gift of love and memories in the form of letters. For some moms, scrapbooks work better than journals or letters and these are works of love and beauty.
Have great morning and evening "book-ends". It's not always easy but keep mornings calm at home. Send them to school knowing they are loved and appreciated. A hug, a little note tucked in the lunch bag, a word of encouragement, etc. There will be days when you'll be gnashing your teeth but keep it to a minimum. There is enough stress at school for kids. Bedtime is my favorite time to touch base with my children. Our bookend to top the day is prayer.
Read with your children. If you have young children, it's easy enough to scoop them in your arms, snuggle and read. As your children grow and become independent readers, make reading an activity they continue to enjoy.
Studies continue to show that a reader does better than a nonreader. This being said, each child is different. Some take to reading and others will resist opening a book. Take advantage of their differences. My youngest, for example, is not a bookworm so I tapped into his love of playing games and came up with a reading tree challenge. I cut up brown paper shaped into a tree trunk and taped this to our pantry door. Every time he read a book, I'd cut a leaf-shaped colored paper, write the title of the book he read and stick the leaf to the tree. I challenged him to have as many leaves as possible after which he'd get a prize. In the end, he loved adding leaves to the tree than receiving a prize. Celebrate uniqueness, love and gratitude. No two families are alike. Some love the outdoors, some stick to the comforts of home. Some might enjoy that moist turkey for Thanksgiving and others relish a pineapple and cheese casserole. Whatever type of family you have, it is where your children are growing to become productive adults. Celebrate your uniqueness and let your home be a place where your children learn love and acceptance. Teach your children about gratitude. There is always something at the end of the day to be thankful for - meals, clothing, health, living in a country of freedom, having each other, the list goes on.
Above all, enjoy your kids while they're still living with you...kids grow too fast, you blink and they're gone.
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