Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Little lessons at sleeptime...

There are so many millions of children's books that I often wonder, "Will the classics that I so loved as a child bore my child to tears?" And then we opened up "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame who wrote the classic little tale in 1908. And, if you're like me, it's been a loooOOnnNng while since you read this. There were a lot of "superfluous" adjectives that went right over my little man's head....but, nonetheless, the characters began to take shape and, like me as a child, he slowly began to fall in love. "By the side of the river he trotted as one trots, when very small, by the side of a man who holds one spell-bound by exciting stories, and when tired at last, he sat on the bank,
while the river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea".

So I whispered to my inner self....the one that gets caught up in lists, cleaning, routine, checking things off....making more lists...

Always read a story at bedtime.

Always say a bedtime prayer.

Try not to say "Hold on , In a minute" and leave the dishes and clothes because they aren't getting bigger before my eyes.

xxx

8 comments:

  1. I loved that story, too. Now I want to revisit it. Thanks for reminding us about the little things in life that are so very important! :) Theresa

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  2. Ah, that's lovely. I have a copy somewhere I've been saving to read to my little fella. Tonight we read The Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the Hat came back. Do you know I've never read that before so it was a first for me! It was fun. I love reading rhyme.

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  3. Such a great post.
    Thanks for that
    T

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  4. Yes, you have it right! I remember bedtime stories were my favorite time with my kids and we never skipped it. I remember reading the Wind in the Willows too. My kids even enjoyed all 7 or 8 volumes of the Little House on the Prairie books. I was as sad as they were when I finished them--they were my childhood favorites, hence my daughter named Laura. Enjoy your little man!

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  5. I need to get the "Wind in the Willows". I know what you mean about reading old fairy tails versus the new bright funny colorful books out now. I have an old vintage set of books full of Poems, Folk and Fairy Tales. I do find that when reading the old ones I have to explain or act out quite a bit more. Some of them are quite strange. I know Rose might be a bit young for some of those old scary ones, so then I have to end the night with a new bright colorful funny one to take her mind off of it. :O
    Jennifer

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  6. oh.
    thank you. i really needed that today.
    what a beautiful way to remind us all of how fast time flies and how quickly little acorns grow into mighty oaks.
    you are a dear.
    c

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  7. You are the best Mama!
    And I am blown away by your new art...
    So much of you is in your work.
    xox, Lisa

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  8. Who could not love Wind in the Willows with its wonderful language and gorgeous illustrations? I'm heartened by what you, as an adult, learned from the experience... it's such a simple thing to spend a bit of time in the evening reading to your child, or to yourself for that matter, but it's oh so important and something your child will likely not forget. I know mine haven't, and they are all in their mid to late twenties now.

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