a while back, I was a bit freaked, to say the least, about the girls. Well, not them so much as the differences between cultures, schools, time zones, you name it. I worried way too much and finally quit doing so. Sometimes I wonder if I should stress more (a female thing?) and then I have conversations with my children that let me know perhaps I should just keep chilling.
Kelsey, "Mommy, mommy, mommy, we have to read now! I haven't done my reading, and I really have to do it!"
Jen, "Dad says you have done your reading (both her school book per day and pleasure reading) and you can go to sleep now. Don't worry, you are fine."
Kelsey, "No, no, I only read a little bit, I didn't read more and I have to read more to be a more better reader!"
After taking a brief break to reel in horror from the statement above. More better….Kelsey might as well have said, "I did good!".
Once recovered, "Honey, you are a good reader, in fact, you are a great reader. You can go to sleep now and not worry about it."
Kelsey, "But I have to read more so I can read CHAPTER BOOKS!"
Jen, "Honey, you DO read chapter books!"
Kelsey, "But I want to read HARDER ONES!"
I gave up at this point and made her go to sleep. Shutting off the light doesn't necessarily do any good, as she will read by any light she can find. However, she must have been truly exhausted as she finally gave up the fight and fell asleep soon thereafter. I wandered off to relay the conversation to Peter and then thought about the past few months. Who knew this would be the end result of my needless worrying?
Without a doubt, I fret too much. With all of the stress on kids and their reading habits, I had no idea I would be so lucky to have not one, but two 'under the covers with flashlights kids'. Color me thrilled and worried no more. Oh, and grateful…very, very grateful.