Making Mama Happy

In my life, books have been important. I have posted about them in the past. I have tried to instill reading as a good past time with my children. Sometimes, I think I failed. But, just yesterday, when I walked through the door, Brian asked me if when Ruth was done in the shower, did I want to sit with them to read. Well, yeah! I didn't get much done in my textbook, (next time I will have to take out Midnight's Children) but I had me a great time!

Brian and Ruth sat at opposites ends of the couch at first. She read from an old fairytale book, while he read Einstein, given to him by my mother. As expected, Ruth got ants in her pants about 25 minutes in. She had 5 minutes to go, and so Brian asked her is she wanted him to read to her. She took him up on that. What a fantastic thing I saw next:


You must understand, only months ago, Brian avoided all touch by hiding out in his room. Then, he slowly let Darrell and I touch him. Even as recent as last month, he would yell at Ruth for coming too close. Here he was, not just reading, but allowing her to rest on his shoulder. He read to her from Einstein. He warned her that what he was going to read might go against her beliefs as a Christian, and that she should not believe Einstein, but her own heart. Are you following me.... :) He stopped ever so often and attempted to explain what was being read. It was endearing to say the least.
Later, when i tucked Ruth in, she told me that she loved Brian reading to her. She pointed out that he let her touch him, and that she could tell when he didn't feel comfortable with her resting on his shoulder because he would move a little away. She added, "But he didn't mind me putting my hand on his arm." This, folks, meant the world to her. Ruth expresses love through touch, and she could finally show her big brother how much he means to her. Of course, he was taking the time to do the same.

On most mornings, I try to get up early and get my homework caught up. It is not easy in a busy house, with the living room with in ear shot of the kitchen. I often battle the TV to keep focused. The other day, when he got up, DJ asked if I wanted to have the TV off for awhile. Well, blow me over with a feather. Making Mumsie happy? That is just wonderful. Yes, thank you, leave the TV off as Ruth is still in bed. I might catch a few more minutes of studying. When I finished my chapter, I got up to let DJ know I was all set. This is what I found:

I thought maybe he had gone down to his room to watch TV, but instead, he was laying on Sam, reading a book from Grama. It was just so sweet a picture, I could not resist. He actually stayed like that for a long while, even when given the okay for the TV to go on.

I hope this means that maybe, the love of reading is passing on to the next generation ...