The sound of magic
Flagrant Disregard | May 13
The kids are in bed.
The Girl is having trouble sleeping. The neighbor’s dog is barking beneath her window. She’s reading and drawing with the light on. I’ll check on her in a few minutes and tuck her in and slide the paper out from under her arm and admire her drawings and put her pencil away and quietly, quietly turn off the light.
From The Boy’s room, a gentle murmur. I stand where he cannot see me, just beyond the light outside his door, and listen. And my heart swells with pride. He is reading.
I can’t find the words to express how wonderful it is to hear him sounding out the words. He reads slowly but with determination and with every victory over each stingy syllable his confidence grows. I can hear the excitement in his voice as he reads and then re-reads familiar words, a new understanding of each one blooming out of the old. Each conquered vowel, each consonant, is taken in and absorbed like so many tiny electric shocks, 50,000 volts of wonder.
It’s quiet now. The dog has stopped barking. I listen to my own breathing. I hear him turn the page, hear the dry rasping of paper on paper, hear him continue to read quietly to himself and supply sounds for the trains and cars and animals in his story.
As excited as I am, my feelings must pale next to his as his grip on this new ability tightens. He doesn’t yet understand the importance of what he is doing but I know he feels somehow bigger, more powerful. He is embarking on a quest and I envy him.
It’s amazing listening to him read. Listening to him learn. Listening to my son growing up.
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That is really precious.
Great post. Congratulations on your son’s accomplishments.
Such a great post. I even feel proud of your son. Thanks for sharing.
I love listening to my son read. He tries so hard to sound out the words and pronounce them so carefully.
You know, you never realize how tough English is to learn until you watch someone read.
Beautiful story. My son is still a bit young but can’t wait for the reading to start
Bravo!
*clap-clap-clap*
BRAVO!!!