Wednesday, March 14, 2012

...double standards...

We have reading... not quite actual-in-fact reading but we have some nearly-reading and some pretty good guesswork and it's clear that reading is about to enter the child's world - or more precisely, the child's bedroom, after 'lights out'.

This is, of course, is nothing new.  One of the first clues I had that the Frog might be marriage material was when on an early sleepover he nervously picked up a book and confessed he liked to read a bit in bed; since then we have gaily traded book-lights in many a Christmas stocking.

While I am deeply delighted that my son is taking the first steps to a lifetime of sleeping next to a toppling pile of half-read novels, I am less keen that he has already realised that firstly, reading after he is supposed to be asleep is quiet and therefore he is less likely to be caught and secondly, that we are less likely to kick up a fuss than if we catch him playing Dr. Who and doing all the voices.

And what am I to do?  I have countless memories of being busted with my torch reading under the covers - something my mother was brilliant at working out mainly because that's what she used to do.  It's a family tradition! 

The thing is, I also remember being tired for school every morning and so of course I want to stop him - but the hypocrisy is dreadful.  I have recently purchased what I think is the perfect book light - and what, I ask you, is reading with a book light while ones partner sleeps other than the grown-up version of reading under the covers?  In fact, since we have moved and Charlie has temporary tenure in a double bed, I have been known on particularly insomniac nights to sneak into his room and read in there to avoid waking the Frog.

So... what am I to do?  For the moment we can insist on lights out as he can't really read much anyway... but give it a year or two and he'll be arguing his case - and I won't have leg to stand on.

12 comments:

Creekers said...

My mother used to remove all reading material and smack my bum. I recall removing your reading material but not smacking. This is generational and you can't win!

Sparx said...

I recall having one or two backup books under my bed... I will not win this one... he is already way smarter than I am!!!

D..J. Kirkby said...

Reading after lights out is worth waking tired for!

cactus petunia said...

If the kid wants to read, let him read! Cereal boxes, milk cartons, comic books, picture books, novels...it's all good. And better yet if he thinks he's getting away with something naughty by reading under the covers at night!

Sparx said...

DJ - I know... but then school suffers...

Cactus - exactly - this is why he is going to get away with it in the end and he knows it... cheeky little thing that he is...

Hoto said...

Your school didn't suffer, you lovely Top of the Class swot. He'll come along. But you hit the nail on the head: If his marks suffer, you can withdraw the privilege. If his marks are great, then no fault found. The benefit of reading, and reading young, has to trump the odd B- in math....

Sparx said...

Hoty

This is true. Math will be the subject of the next blog though... he is obsessed with numbers and sums; he can find them everywhere. I hope this means he will make a lot of money and look after his old ma. It may also mean he becomes a living breathing super-geek but there we go.

Muddling Along said...

I agree with the others - I don't think you can fight it BUT perhaps work out how to pop in dying batteries to his torch so he can't read that long?

Expat mum said...

All my kids are reading fanatics (she says, smugly) but when little, they read for however long they want before bed. Then it's brushed teeth and bed time. Routine. There's just no argument - they need their sleep.

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Anonymous said...

Totally understand you not wanting to discourage reading. But sleep is vital! Maybe you should just send him to bed earlier so he gets of reading time in, but then insist on an hour when lights are out, no matter what!
Good luck,
Ali.

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