Noah has wanted to learn to read for a long time, but was just not ready.  I subscribe to the idea that when kids are ready, they will do things.  I try very hard not to push them.  We make lots of things available and when they want to write the alphabet they will. When they want to paint they do, etc.  I know enough to know that you can’t (and maybe shouldn’t) rush development.  Rushing one area of development can leave another area bypassed.  And while for my own “look at my kid” desires, I have let reading go.  We have level 1 readers that he sometimes would pick up and we would sound out words, etc.  But it was always more frustrating for him than anything.  Because anyone who knows my son, knows that he likes to succeed and be good at things.  Failing at something or not being able to do something makes him extremely frustrated (that is putting it mildly–often he can go bat shit crazy).

Anyway.  Our bedtime routine is pretty simple–brush teeth and read.  I usually read a chapter from a Magic Treehouse book to Noah and then book to Zoë.  Sometimes we flip and I read to Zoë first.  But it’s pretty simple.  Well last night, Noah had to move some of those goofy decal things that stick on the wall but you can move them from place to place, etc.  So, I read to Zoë.  Noah asked if he could get one of his “easy” books to look at while I read Princess Winter Wishes or some nonsense like that to Zoë.  I said sure.

So, I finished reading to Zoë and then Noah asked if he could practice reading tonight instead of listening to me read.  I said absolutely.  He is learning words in school and they have a word wall and he is starting to recognize words and read them when he sees them.  So, he started reading the book.  And we talked about the words and I help with sounding some of them out.  But he was able to read a good portion of the book without my help.  My heart swelled.  But that wasn’t the best part.

When Noah finished, he laid backwards on the bottom bunk, eyes wide and said “I am so proud.”

We then read it 3 more times and had to try a few other books as well.

“Reading is AWSOME Mom.”

Yes reading is awesome little man.  He had to read the book to his dad this morning–twice and to his sister once.

He still has along way to go before he is a reader–but he is well on his way and is ready.