Embrace the Ordinary vol. 29

Last night, I was taking a few minutes at bedtime with my boys to read stories. It was nearly 8pm, which is our “must be in bed” time for the boys, and we hadn’t done any family prayers yet. Some nights, I’m ready to push through the routine and get everyone off to bed as soon as possible, so I can finally sit in quiet and peace. Doing so usually means we miss out on stories, but our reading time together is also a huge part of our family time. So, we sat and read for 5 or so minutes. It was good. My 6 yr old chose a Chima Lego book, the type I usually cringe at reading because the stories are dull and tedious. But I didn’t cringe. I invited him to read to me, or for us to take turns reading. He started, and then we took turns.

Now, I already know he’s a good reader. That’s a perk of homeschooling; I know exactly how good my kids are at reading, math, etc. But, the reading selections we do for his lessons are from a 1st grader reader, which focuses on phonetic skills in stories which repeat the same phonograms and  rules for repetition and ease of learning. We haven’t read or practiced words like “beautiful” or “adventure” or “though”, but last night, he read those words. He read them with ease. He read fluently. He read SO WELL. It was amazing. Reading is one of those skills that kids learn, that sometimes we don’t even think about how much work it takes. Only I know. You know. I think back to last year, when I was in the middle of teaching him to read, and we struggled to review blending sounds into a word. Sometimes it was like pulling teeth to encourage my little guy to try again, to remember that he *just* read that word. I wondered if reading would always be a struggle, always a chore for him. Now, it is a joy. He loves to sit and read. And he reads so well. It’s a joy to my mama heart, that he’s found–learned–something he can do, do well, and enjoys.

Our little routines bring order and peace and stability to our family. Routines like our reading together at night. They bring comfort. They bond us more tightly together. And who knew, but they also teach us about one another. I’m so glad I took the few moments last night to read with my boys, to listen to what my oldest son can do, to delight in his story choice and his growing ability to read.

Please visit some of these other sweet bloggers, sharing their ordinary moments. Amanda writes about snuggling with her sick boys, and living in the moment. Rita shared some really special memories of her own with her son, as he looked through her jewelry box. It’s a treasure, for sure.

 

“…there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.”  St. Josemaria Escriva, Passionately Loving the World

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