Reading habit
Ever since I can remember, books had been a part of my life. We used to own the only book rental service in town and I thought that was responsible for my love of reading. Of course the fact that as children, we weren’t allowed to read comic books and watch tv contributed very largely to my lifetime relationship with reading.
Books and magazines have always been a part of my life. It had been responsible for what can be considered an adequate grasp of the vocabulary. So when I had kids, I naturally wanted them to experience the joy of reading. As early as conception, I would read to my slowly growing tummy, poems that were recommended for developing foetuses. As babies, I would read to them nursery rhymes, and still more poems. Sing to them lullabies which are poems with tunes.
As years go by, my babies became toddlers, and now they are all in school. The constant effort on my kids to love books was continous. Considered it as labor of love. I knew they would benefit from it. I set up rules like 1 hour a day reading time, and no tv for certain hours of the day. Spending on books was for me a necessity. The months it had to take for me to pay up those Grolier editions from babyhood up to the present was no joke. Every year I would be acquiring books that I think is necessary to entice my kids to read. And nice books were expensive.
At the beginning of this summer vacation, I assigned each child a book to read. I insisted they finish it before the next schoolyear came. I was able to find a hardback copy of "the Hardy Boys" for my 9-year-old son Leon, a "Nancy Drew Book" for my 10-year-old daughter Ulya, and a Baha’i short story book for my 6-year-old daughter Lara.Getting them to read it was a struggle. They complain and try to delay the task. But I was strict. This was what my parents did with me, and I think this is a legacy I can pass down to them.
Last night, I went out with some friends. Carlo was leaving today and he wanted to spend some time with us along with his family. I recommended for us to go to my mother-in-laws bar. I wanted to help promote the place. We had fun. I was the bartender since I didn’t want to drink. Stayed for approximately 2 hours. Give or take a few minutes. Everybody had fun, but I had to leave earlier than everyone because it was a weekday and there were lots to be done today.
As I arrived home last night. I can hear my children’s voices. I knew they were awake, as it wasn’t that late. But as I was taking my shoes off and checking the locks on my doors, I couldn’t help but notice that they were very quiet. Quite perplexing. The tranquility in the room was unusual. Very peculiar.
As I entered the room, I can see that Mark was already asleep. Very tired from the days campaigning. The scene in the room shocked me. Leon was on their bed watching TV, and my two girls were READING!!! They had the reading lamp on the floor and both were lying on their stomach with a book each in front of them. Lya was reading a compilation of short stories that I bought when she was a baby and read to her till she was a toddler. It was a 2-inch book and she was halfway through it. Lara was reading another compilation of short stories as well. They were really in the book. I can emagine them seeing the scenery in their minds. They were reading. My two daughters. As early as 6 and 10 and I was able to instill in them the joy of reading. Now I only have Leon to worry about.
As Leon and I laid on the bed watching Law and Order, my little turtle( that’s what we call Lara) approached me. "Mommy" she said. " can’t help my eyes closing". "They’re tired, really tired. I haven’t finished my story yet, what shall I do?" That’s when I taught her the use of a bookmark.
April 25, 2007, my Lola Maria’s 96 birthday. Also the birth of my kids enthusiasm towards reading. Like the dates of my children’s first first’s. I will never forget this date.
