Family Time
One of our family’s favorite things to do, regardless of season or location, is read aloud. Though the circle has become smaller, the opportunities less frequent, and the books longer, we all look forward to it as an oasis from the bustle of life. It was birthed out of my own love for reading. At the time my children (2 elementary age, 2 preschoolers and 2 toddlers) and I desired to read, but couldn’t find or justify the time. Isn’t it said that, “Necessity is the mother of invention”?
Well, in this case I decided I could indulge my own yearning for release through a book and teach my children at the same time. Nowadays we call it multi-tasking, but at that stage I called it survival.
In the beginning stages we read at naptime and bedtime with scores of questions to answer about the pictures and usually the same books every day with them falling asleep before we finished. Then we moved on to short stories that taught morals or about the exploits of great men and women. It was a reward after school and in lieu of watching TV on long, dark, winter nights. No matter what we are reading or where, these elements are almost always included: cuddling, backrubs, blankets, hot chocolate, popcorn and “just one more chapter, Mom, pleeease”.
Just last night my husband sent the kids to get ready for bed and then to meet downstairs for a book. Only now it’s he who falls asleep to the caresses of his children and the sounds of me reading “just one more chapter.”
Reading aloud has been and remains a favorite time for us to experience an adventure with our family. Now that we have wet their appetites for reading, my children pick up a book to pull out of the fast pace of daily life…to refresh and relish an escape even if they only go as far as the family room couch.
Article by Elise Case. Elise is the wife of Tom Case. They have six children ranging in age from 10-19.