My son, Andrew (age 7) has been reading way too much Pokemon and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The result has been an infusion of ideas and habits that aren’t necessarily all that helpful from a behavioral perspective.
Suddenly, I realized that maybe I, the scholar-father, should make sure he reads something GOOD. Brilliant, I know.
So, last night I introduced him to The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I had him read the first chapter on his own. He liked it and accurately reported back what happened. I laid in bed with him and read the next couple of chapters. I could tell he liked it because he occasionally finished a sentence ahead of me in a voice of wonderment.
Around 8 pm, I left him in bed with his lamp on and a bookmark in the book (he doesn’t tolerate folded corners like his old man).
When I checked on him before retiring myself around 11 pm, I could tell he wasn’t really asleep. He knew that I knew and looked at me.
“Andrew, have you been up reading all this time?”
“I finished it.”
I asked him what character he liked the best. OS-LAHN, he enunciated.
Daddy couldn’t resist rubbing the secret late night reader on the head and feeling rather triumphant as he walked out the door.
December 2nd, 2009 | 10:19 pm | #1
That’s awesome. My daddy handed me Stephen R Lawhead and Tolkein along with C.S. Lewis. :) I was no older than 8.
December 2nd, 2009 | 11:37 pm | #2
I’ve been reading the whole series to my (now) 11 and 14 year old over several years. They are now re-reading them on their own. The discussions about the stories, and about life as it relates to the Truths embodied there, are even better than the stories themselves!
December 3rd, 2009 | 6:44 am | #3
Nice work, caped crusader.
December 3rd, 2009 | 9:28 am | #4
that’s really great – thanks for sharing.
other thoughts…I can’t help wishing I could go to bed at 8pm with a good book and be left undisturbed until 11pm, and then with only a pat on the head. Of course, someday soon I’ll probably wish my munchkins were still at home, kept me up til midnight, and woke me up at 6am….someday.
December 3rd, 2009 | 10:21 am | #5
I think that is such a cute story, and I think it is amazing that you take such an interest in the reading habits and moral formation of your son. I have always been an avid reader, and I was not brought up in a Christian household. Looking back, I wish my parents would have monitored my reading more closely. I became a Christian in my mid thirties (I am now in my late thirties), and I am very conscious of what I read now. I still read a great deal for entertainment, but I am very conscious of the kind of works that I now read–and I also read more for education and enlightenment.
December 3rd, 2009 | 11:20 am | #6
Alison, I am also an adult convert to Christianity and feel the same way. My reading habits were probably a bit too laissez faire as a kid.
December 4th, 2009 | 1:06 am | #7
My favorite character is Reepicheep!
December 4th, 2009 | 10:22 am | #8
Great story. I think I was reading trash like the Hardy Boys at that age. Good for you for caring.
(and you do not necessarily have to volunteer to Mom that he was up that late)
December 4th, 2009 | 12:49 pm | #9
Bill – Reepicheep comes later!
Hunter: well done, sir. This story made me happy.
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