Bookworms

I screw up a lot as a parent. I can name at least five things I wish I had handled differently just yesterday. I am doing pretty well today but that’s because the kids are still in school. I am a great parent when they aren’t here.

In spite of my MANY shortcomings, I am proud of the fact that both kids are readers. My kids love to read. Mason REALLY loves to read. Books actually get him in trouble. Just this morning I had to take his book away because he wasn’t getting ready for school. He gets so lost in his books that he becomes pretty unresponsive – or maybe that is because he is in middle school. Either way, the kid love to read. After we got the fourth overdue notice from the middle school librarian he told me, “Mom, I am still probably one of her favorites because I check out so many books.” I explained to him that I think you fall of the favorites list if you never return any of the books. 

I LOVE to read. Really love it. That’s why I majored in English the first time around. I didn’t mind that each class came with a minimum of 5 books. My favorite place to go is the bookstore. Now that you can find coffee shops in most bookstores…added bonus. I am not afraid to admit I get a little sad when I finish a good book. I knew one of my now dearest friends and I were going to get along fabulously when she told me that sometimes she and her mom will read the same book at one time and just tear the book in half so they can share. 

Both my kids have participated in Battle of the Books. It’s like playoffs in sports but for the bookworm set. They have to read a set of predetermined award winning books and then compete against other schools. Mason’s team even went to districts this year. It was wild….100’s of kids, many with matching outfits and team cheers. I had no idea there was so much competition and intensity surrounding books. When I heard that nationals was in Hawaii I wished I had made Mason read all the books instead of just some and quizzed him late into the night. They were out in the first round but in the sadness of defeat they all solemnly vowed that each person had to read all 15 books next year, not divide them up. Maybe Hawaii is still in my future.

Of course Audrey’s Battle of the Books team this year made matching t-shirts. The fashion was just as important as the reading. If you are going to be a reader, you have to do it with style proving that being a reader is cool too.

With summer looming ahead, I am glad they like to read. The first stop when someone breathes the dreaded b-word is to the library or better yet, the bookstore. They have the caffeine.

Not the Time of His Life

With middle school comes outdoor school. Ask any adult about outdoor school and more often than not their face lights up and they talk about all their wonderful memories. The words “best time in middle school” are often iterated. It’s a time to be with classmates, counselors and enjoy the outside without parents. My school didn’t have outdoor school but I have been to school and to camp so I get the drift.

It has been with excitement and dread that I watched Mason’s outdoor school approach. Initially I wasn’t sure he would want to go and I was prepared to support him either way. A few months back he said he wanted to go so we have been talking about it and making plans. I have to be careful now that my kids are getting older. I know my mere existence they find embarrassing at times so I have to be extra cautious what I put in print so they don’t disown me yet. I will just say I believe I have kids that are more sensitive than average. Before my kids were even in school “The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Them” was a staple on my bedside table. Feelings, the good and the bad, come big in my house. The sensitivity can also extend to clothing (socks worn inside out because they feel better), emotions, sounds, etc. You get the idea. Anyhow, both my kids – with one in particular – like their routines, spaces and down time.

I watched outdoor school approach and did my best to be confident, encouraging and brave. After the first night I convinced myself that things were probably okay because I hadn’t been called. By the second night I was feeling pretty good and the third night I slept like a log feeling like we had overcome a giant hurdle on the road to independence.

Turns out, the “time of his life” was not how he described it. It was hard. He was sad. Really sad. Things got better as the week went on but it wasn’t awesome-to say the least. He wouldn’t do it again and now his sister is pretty sure she wants nothing to do with it.  I have two years to explain that his experience doesn’t equate to what her experience will be. I feel sad that he had a hard time. I feel a little bad when I see all the posts about friends’ kids who had a blast. I am happy for them but sorry that my kid didn’t feel the same.

But, in the middle of it, you know what I am? I am super proud of my kids. I am proud that my younger one goes to school without crying any more. I am proud that my oldest one got on the bus and went to outdoor school when he could have chosen to stay home. I am proud of them for being honest that sometimes they just find life overwhelming. Outdoor school wasn’t the time of his life but how awesome that the time of his life is still ahead of him.