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Malcolm,
He had the whale of a time. I get to do the reading at home. Our reading time means a lot to me too.
posted by
word.smith
on November 8, 2005 at 11:40 AM
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Hope you had a good time?
I realised last week that, because our youngest children read so extensively (and determinedly) now, I rarely read to them. I've been reading to our daughter again recently and it's great - especially when we each read alternate pages. It's only words, but what we have we treasure.
posted by
malcolm
on November 7, 2005 at 10:56 AM
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Joe, that makes
shopping a more pleasant experience, since he's always in a hurry to visit the toy store.
posted by
word.smith
on November 7, 2005 at 8:58 AM
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Smart approach, Cass.
posted by
word.smith
on November 7, 2005 at 8:57 AM
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I think its wonderful that your
boy is participating in a Book club. (Especially if it affords you a bit of shopping time while he's at the meeting LOL)
posted by
Joe_Love
on November 6, 2005 at 3:00 AM
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I too fit writing into those moments that I can. One of them is my son's basketball training. The stadium is too far away to go home in between (especially with the cost of petrol) so I take my writing materials with me and concentrate on words while the balls are bouncing!
posted by
Ca88andra
on November 5, 2005 at 6:00 PM
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Thanks for talking with me Blanche,
I'm gonna go try to get some more writing in. Gotta be at work tomorrow. 
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 4:39 PM
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Yep, now if only I can stick with them.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 5, 2005 at 4:32 PM
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Wonderful words of wisdom, Blanche.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 4:30 PM
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Word,
My boyfriend has a quote he picked up from a self-help tape: "Don't try to change other people, it's a full tme job changing yourself." Once I got that straight and stopped trying to "rescue" my family (who didn' t want to be rescued). I could get on with my life.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 5, 2005 at 4:16 PM
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Blanche,
The worst thing we can do is to manipulate those around us for our own selfish ends. It backfires, without fail.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 4:13 PM
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Word,
That mother and daughter are a unique pair, and we've since parted ways, but I often wonder what will become of the daughter. She has no other close family connections, she does know her dad, but they're not close. Her Mom is very political and vocal. I can't help but wonder if she decided to get political just at the time that her daughter was becoming independent, so as to sabotage her daughter's budding independence. So much is psychologically motivated.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 5, 2005 at 4:11 PM
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MayB,
Now there's a man who has no time for his children and no understanding of how they develope their reading and comprehension skills when they are read to early on out. The statistics are scary. Fewer and fewer people are reading. I know you're already seeing the results of your efforts within your family.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 4:03 PM
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The reading group sounds good. We read to and with our children - my daughter now and my son when he was younger - every night for up to half an hour. Recently I said this at a dinner when I was sitting beside a professional story-reader, a woman who runs sessions at libraries. The man opposite turned to his companion and muttered , "No way, I tell'em they can bloody read it themselves.
posted by
Azur
on November 5, 2005 at 3:58 PM
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That does sound unhealthy.
The daughter will one day wake up and realize all the living she has missed. She may blame her mother for that. Life, in spite of those painful times that come, has got to be experienced by all of us. I think both of them are robbing themselves and each other. I hope it's not too late when they wake up. Thanks for your kind words. 
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 3:56 PM
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Word,
It is a tough thing to do: raise a child alone. I know one person who chose to do it herself, and nobody can say that her daughter isn't beautiful and bright, but the way I see it, their bond has become unhealthy, she should be getting out now at 20, but mother and daughter have chosen to reject the world, but that's my opinion. Raising a child is not for the faint of heart, but I'm glad you did. The world needs more people like you.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 5, 2005 at 3:52 PM
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I share your views,
I decided a long time ago that I was not going to do that either. In Jamaica, I'd say that 95% of women raise children on their own. Not only that, they have several children with different men and then have to raise the children on their own. Makes no sense to me. I always wanted kids. I have only one, but I am grateful to God for him.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 3:48 PM
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Word,
I did spend a lot of time reading as well. . I didn't have kids for a whole variety of reasons, one was: I wasn't going to do it alone like my Mom. The other is I'm a quiet person, pretty high-strung at times, and I like reading a lot. But then my kid might have inherited the reading gene.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 5, 2005 at 3:43 PM
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Blanche,
I'm not an only child, but I was alone at home most of the time. In lieu of companionship, I had to settle for books.. School was wonderful because I got to interact with all the other children. I realize that children do need company of their own age, which is why I don't fuss when other kids from neighbouring houses come over - even if I want to tear my hair out with all the mayhem they cause.
She's obviously lonely....makes me want to go aaawww.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 3:39 PM
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I'm no expert, but I was an only child, which did give me a sort of perspective. Not to comment on your upbringing of your son, but with this little girl, I see her looking longingly at other kids, wanting to approach them. Her mother comes by once in a while, and I wonder if she sets her up with playmates.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 5, 2005 at 3:33 PM
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Offbeats, thanks.
Time does fly. The 4 years since his birth have gone by at the speed of light.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 3:32 PM
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Blanche,
I think that not having playmates does help children to mature that much faster. My son has had mostly adult companionship at home. People remark on his maturity.
Sometimes I wonder if I gave birth to him or if he gave me life. Kids are a constant source of amazement and the questions they ask!
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 3:31 PM
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Word
When you have children, your world does seem to fly, but so does time! Hope you get an idea or two coming your way!!!
posted by
Offy
on November 5, 2005 at 3:30 PM
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Word.smith,
She is. I see her every week on Saturdays, and I think I'm watching her grow up in a way. She sits on her Dad's lap while he plays saxophone, flute or clarinet, like it's the most natural thing in the world. Then she'll run over to someone for a hug or to read to her, but she's become more aloof, a little more self-conscious. and I wish she had someone her own age to play with.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 5, 2005 at 3:20 PM
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Blanche,
That is one of the things that amazes me about children. Their ability to understand things we think they can't or won't. That sounds like one mature little girl.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 3:17 PM
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You go Telly!
Here's hoping the words keep flowing.
I think I've done well so far in trying to teach my son to appreciate book and reading. He always wants a story. Too many people in Jamaica do not have a proper grasp of the English Language and this reaches up to university level. I don't want that for my son.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 3:16 PM
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Word.smith,
A little girl I know, the 4-year-old daughter of one of the muscians at the local coffee shop, comes in while her Daddy is playing on Saturdays. This morning she asked me to read to her out of Gary Larsen's collection of "Far Side" cartoons. I was amazed how much she could comprehend out of Gary Larsen's rather adult and complex humor.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 5, 2005 at 1:46 PM
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Strong vibes. I did manage to pound out about 300 words last night, and I'm going to try to get more done today. If I can ever get it in gear! Very glad to hear about your son's reading group -- that's a such a positive thing!
posted by
telynor
on November 5, 2005 at 1:25 PM
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Tapsel,
They do keep us busy and entertained. He enjoys going there and always wants me to get him a book.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 6:46 AM
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word.smith, I love hearing about your son. I really miss the days when mine were that age. I used to take the four of them to the library for the story hour and other things. It was one of our favorite preschool activities.
posted by
TAPS.
on November 5, 2005 at 6:40 AM
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Libertine,
You can count on me to send some good mental vibes your way.
posted by
word.smith
on November 5, 2005 at 5:57 AM
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Send some ideas my way, because I'll probably be sitting here watching SVU...and
not writing!
posted by
Holy_Grail
on November 5, 2005 at 5:51 AM
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