Hubby and I were having a discussion last week where he fessed up and told me that not only does he rarely have time to read but in truth it is not a favorite past time of his. WHAT?!?!?! MY husband does not like to read. And in twelve years of being with the man I have never caught on to this. How in the world did we even end up married if he does not like to read? I, as you could probably tell, really like to read. And I am trying my hardest to instill this love of reading in my children as well. Hubby is too. We have always read to the kids and continue to do so. Admittedly as Big Brother has gotten older Hubby has started falling asleep as he reads because the stories are longer but they are still enjoying the books together.
However, this knowledge has made me a royal pain in Hubby's you know what. I keep talking to him about how important it is for the kids to see us read. How that is the most important thing. How if they see
we like reading they will to. And I seem to be getting more and more anxious about it and I keep bugging him. Now, he agreed with me that it is important and he has been making an effort to read more. He goes back and forth about his feelings on whether he is doing more damage or good when it takes him a month to read a book while I have read between four and six in that time. The more pressure I put on him to pick a book or read a book the more upset and frustrated he gets with me about it (rightly so I suppose but I think I am still in shock).
Then last weekend he brought up a point that stopped me cold and has shut me right up. He pointed out that pretty much all educational experts agree that music is good for kids. That learning to play an instrument, to read music and the like is good for kids. That it helps them on a lot of levels and it is fun. Yet, no one says that children need to see their parents play. Sure, its good for them and if a parent plays then the child is more likely to play but if the parent doesn't no big deal, right? So, he made the point that while I am reading and reading and reading I am never playing music (I don't know how).
Why don't I make an effort? Why don't I learn to play? We have a guitar, a key board, a clarinet and a harmonika in the house. Why don't I pick one up and learn to play?
The short answer would be well I don't really want to. But he doesn't really want to read. He wants to play guitar. So, why can't I just leave him alone and let him play guitar (or any of the other instruments listed above) and he can let me read? Why is it not good enough for our kids to see I love to read and he loves to play music and they can do what they choose? Now, of course they need to learn to read and they need to continue to read on elevated reading levels (because while being able to read the Berenstein Bears may appease their children one day I do want them to be able to have jobs as well) but none the less I think my husband is right. And while it is still a little hard for me to fathom that reading is not his choice of activity I suppose I should simply be grateful that he plays so many instruments and is so musical so our kids can be exposed to that as well.
However, this knowledge has made me a royal pain in Hubby's you know what. I keep talking to him about how important it is for the kids to see us read. How that is the most important thing. How if they see
we like reading they will to. And I seem to be getting more and more anxious about it and I keep bugging him. Now, he agreed with me that it is important and he has been making an effort to read more. He goes back and forth about his feelings on whether he is doing more damage or good when it takes him a month to read a book while I have read between four and six in that time. The more pressure I put on him to pick a book or read a book the more upset and frustrated he gets with me about it (rightly so I suppose but I think I am still in shock).Then last weekend he brought up a point that stopped me cold and has shut me right up. He pointed out that pretty much all educational experts agree that music is good for kids. That learning to play an instrument, to read music and the like is good for kids. That it helps them on a lot of levels and it is fun. Yet, no one says that children need to see their parents play. Sure, its good for them and if a parent plays then the child is more likely to play but if the parent doesn't no big deal, right? So, he made the point that while I am reading and reading and reading I am never playing music (I don't know how).
Why don't I make an effort? Why don't I learn to play? We have a guitar, a key board, a clarinet and a harmonika in the house. Why don't I pick one up and learn to play?The short answer would be well I don't really want to. But he doesn't really want to read. He wants to play guitar. So, why can't I just leave him alone and let him play guitar (or any of the other instruments listed above) and he can let me read? Why is it not good enough for our kids to see I love to read and he loves to play music and they can do what they choose? Now, of course they need to learn to read and they need to continue to read on elevated reading levels (because while being able to read the Berenstein Bears may appease their children one day I do want them to be able to have jobs as well) but none the less I think my husband is right. And while it is still a little hard for me to fathom that reading is not his choice of activity I suppose I should simply be grateful that he plays so many instruments and is so musical so our kids can be exposed to that as well.
Ha! I don't love to read and have no musical ability either-lol. I'm not sure what I'm teaching my kids:/
ReplyDelete~Patty
I love to read and so does Casey. Casey also knows how to play the guitar. So I can see the balance that having both of those things be shown through action (and that the parents enjoy them) is important.
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