I am a reader. I can’t start a book without neglecting my
kids and house for at least three days while I power through it. Before you go
calling CPS, I may have been over exaggerating a bit. The house suffers. That
part was entirely true. My kids are fine though, I swear.
Much of what I know has crept off the pages of a book and
into my mind where it lingers and occupies my brain for awhile, sometimes
forever. I want my children to be
endlessly curious, always seeking out more information. I want them to escape
into another world and believe in things that they cannot see. I want them to
see things from another point of view-one far away from home or even reality.
I want them to be readers.
Together we have soared to Neverland, howled at the moon
with Wild Things, explored the hidden world inside of a peach, and learned a
lot about friendships and bedtime routines.
Eldon is going into Kindergarten this year and soon he will be
reading the books to me. As any parent with school age children knows
and remembers, bittersweet doesn’t even begin to cover it. I am so grateful to
the world’s children’s book authors for their hand in raising my son and
preparing him for the real world. They are unknowingly part of our “village”
and as he enters school, I can rest assured that his soul has been nourished by
the hands of many brilliant minds and that he has already learned some big
stuff.
Here is a short list of such stuff.
1.
Nobody loves you like your mama. She will always
be your biggest fan and when you run off on some island adventure for over a
year, she will have hot supper waiting in anticipation of your return.
2.
Some days suck. Nothing goes right and your
feelings get hurt. All we can do is look to a better tomorrow because that’s
just the way it is…even across the world where the stars hang upside down and
the toilet water swirls in a different direction.
3.
People are different but have so much more in
common than they think they do. In every country, love is the same and so is
hurt. Also, everyone poops. (even bugs)
4. “You won't lag behind, because you'll have the
speed. You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead. Wherever you
fly, you'll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the
rest….except when you don't. Because,
sometimes, you won't.” –Dr. Seuss
(yep, straight outta the book. We simply do
not paraphrase Dr. Seuss. It just isn’t done.)
5. While
some people (and trees) might be happy to give you everything they have, it is
always wise to be mindful of how often you take, and always give something in
return. Otherwise, the time will come
when all they can offer you is a stump to sit on.
6. A
good imagination, a good book, or perhaps even a purple crayon can take you on a
wild adventure, if you’re brave enough. Sometimes you need to adapt and solve
problems on your own if you are going to reach your destination.
7. Caterpillars
have no self control whatsoever. They just eat everything they can find until they
feel like crap.
8. Stay
positive. Some things are HARD work. Keep at it, and remember that if you think
you CAN, you can.
9. Having
an overabundance of something (such as rainbow scales) won’t make people like
you. To get good friends, you have to be one and spreading the wealth makes
every fish happier and the sea even more beautiful.
10. YOU
are special. There is only one you in this entire world. YOU are enough. Just
be yourself and don’t ever try to act like someone else’s “you.” It never
works, and people like you just the way you are anyway.
