Mom’s 90th Birthday

I spent the weekend with my sisters and friends in Boise for my Mom’s 90^th birthday. On the invitation to her birthday party it said, “optional, if you want to bring a gift we suggest a new or used book.” At 90 my Mom reads constantly. It keeps her mind sharp. She is full of life and fun to be around!

It made me think about reading. Readers nurture their children to love reading. This cycle continues. My Mom loves to read and all her children love to read. They are passing that love of reading to their children and grandchildren. So I asked these questions:

1. When did you learn to read?

2. Do you remember how you learned to read?

3. When did you know you loved reading?

4. Do you remember your Mom reading to you?

Think back to your own life; and ask those questions to yourself.

I asked many people these questions and got various answers. Many remember those first Dick and Jane books. They were little books with beautiful pictures and words that they could read. In them they discovered the wonder of unlocking print, turning print into words and words into stories.

When we were children, at bedtime we would gather in our little sister bedroom to hear the latest chapter in the book Mom was reading to us. My two little sisters were tucked into bed and the rest of us would bring pillows and sit on the floor to hear Mom read. It was a quiet and peaceful time. We were involved in the story and wanted to know what came next.

Most have no recollection of learning the ABC’s, but a vivid recollection of stories in their lives. A young man said he remembers struggling to learn to read until his 1^st grade teacher sat down with him and “explained to him how reading worked.” As a teacher of reading that really interested me, but he couldn’t remember anything specific.

It’s interesting, isn’t it? We can’t remember specifics, but we definitely remember stories in books. Stories touch our soul, change our lives, excite us and leave us wanting more.

A friend remembers her Mom reading the classics to her and her siblings at the dinner table. My sisters said they remember reading all the Beverly Cleary books, Little House on the Prairie, Dr. Dolittle, and cereal boxes. My Grandma had my Mom memorize poetry and small stories, and then Mom would entertain at parties.

Life is just better with reading in it. We can go places we would not otherwise visit and see places we may never really be able to experience.

Let’s help all children in the world discover reading. Help them love life and learning. You are the key to helping a new generation of children learn to read. Open the door to the future--read to a child today.