I grew up in a household with parents who love to read. When I’d wake up in the morning, there’d be at least 2 sets of newspapers from major dailies in our dining table while my parents eat.
Our family room was furnished not only with memorabilia, frames, and trophies — but with a full set of encyclopedia, a science encyclopedia, and a business encyclopedia. I was literally surrounded by books.
I don’t remember having my parents set me down each night though to read me a story. Like other parents during the early 80s and 90s, most were busy making a career for themselves. Sometimes, I’d sleep without seeing my Dad arrive from work and wake up finding he’s already on the road back to work. My Mom, although she loves books never really sat down with me to read. She was a career woman herself.
Brushing up on my penmanship by copying poetry from our books also helped a lot in nurturing my love for reading. I think that also got me started in writing poetry myself. I’d spend summer afternoons when I couldn’t sleep (as my nanny commanded!), copying pages and pages of short poetry from our mini library.
Whenever my Dad would drive us to school though, my brother and I would take turns reading the paper for him while he’s busy navigating the streets. It was a time of learning for us as well. I joined the school paper and now work part time for magazines, while my brother studied law in school probably influenced by the political news that he gets to read for my Dad. He’s now a Foreign Service Officer.
But I grew up loving books the old school way — not the Kindle way or the e-book way. The smell of the pages and the rustle of crisp paper as you turn the pages, always fill me with a sense of wonder. I’ve lost lots of books too — to friends who never returned them — but I’d rather that they’d be in somebody else’s bookshelf loved and read than rotting in storage.
In this day and age where supplemental classes like Kumon abound, I wonder if my parents technique of just surrounding us with reading materials will still work for my own kid. Honestly, I am inconsistent when teaching my kid how to read. I sometimes worry that maybe I am not doing enough. I do however encourage my son every time he leads a teaching moment — like when we’re out doing grocery and he reads the labels or we’re out walking and he read the shop names.
Living abroad with no supplemental schools with the likes of Kumon, I’ve got my work cut out for me. I’d like to think that reading by example is enough — but with all the gadgetry around and with me not being a full time stay at home mom, it’s getting more and more difficult. So maybe, my fellow mommies in the Philippines have got it right. Maybe enrolling kids in reading schools will instill the love for reading. But maybe, I can still get the spark going at home. Wish me luck.
For variety, why not try Judy Blume’s first books like “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” or “Blubber”. Lots and lots of wonderful books back then.
