This is a recent photo of my stepdaughter that I took. It was early evening and I spotted her lugging an armful of books outside to read on her trampoline. It reminded me of myself as a child, as I have always loved reading, and reading outside in particular. It's amazing how quickly you can fall into another world and how deeply you can come to care about the characters. There are some books that you can read twenty times and still get the same thrill as if it were your first time hearing the story.
My favorite book as a child was "The Great Gilly Hopkins," by Katherine Paterson. I grew up in foster care and Gilly, the title character of the book, was also a foster child. She spends most of the book as a sassy young girl who just wants to be reunited with her biological mother. As she grows to love her unconventional foster family, she realizes they are the family she needed all along. However, by this point, Gilly has reached out to her mother, claiming abuse, so that they can be reunited. Instead, her biological grandmother brings Gilly to live with her, and is forced to bribe Gilly's mom to even visit her daughter. Gilly eventually adapts to life with her grandmother and seems content enough, though it's quite heartbreaking that she lost the foster family she truly loved in the process. Although it's a children's novel, it's still a story I enjoy reading as an adult.
That photo is priceless! It really shows one of the beautiful parts of being a child. What better place to read than on a trampoline!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a cool picture of your step-daughter reading on the trampoline. As a child, I didn't care for reading, but now as an adult, it is one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. And I agree, there's nothing like reading a book over and over again and still enjoying it as if it were the first time.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful picture, and a lovely quote! I am a stepmother, too, and I really appreciate your dedication to your relationship with your stepdaughter and her education. She is lucky to have you in her life! Also, how great to have discovered a love for reading at a young age!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jordan, Trisha, and Lori! I've found that the key to getting her interested in reading is to find books that she enjoys. Her mom frequently pushes books on her about historical figures, which is wonderful, but it doesn't pique her interest and make her want to read. She's really into zombies or stories about other kids in school, so I try to buy her books that make her really want to read. :)
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