Pride and Joy

I don’t think of myself as a perfect parent and often not as a good one. I’m frequently aloof, often short-tempered, and not always consistent. Despite my shortcomings I often see evidence that I might be doing something right. At the very least I can see that I’m not undermining with my poor parenting the good work that Jennifer does as Maura’s mother or destroying by my inattention Maura’s essential good nature.

One of those occasions when I can see that Maura is absorbing the lessons that her mother and I want her to learn came last Friday on the final night of Chanukah when Maura opened her last gift. She had appreciated the earlier gifts and I don’t think she had any disappointments. She takes her new stuffed Panda to bed at night and she wanted to wear her new dress to school even though it isn’t appropriate and I had to tell her no. It was clear from the moment that she opened it that the last gift was her favorite--the one that gave her the most pleasure to receive.

That final gift was a boxed collection of classic books for children. Jennifer and I had spotted it at the library book sale and picked it up right away. We can’t agree on who saw it first or whose idea it was to get it but neither of us had any doubts that Maura would love it and I am proud to say we were perfectly correct. Her eyes lit up when she unwrapped her box of books and right away she wanted to start reading them.

Maura is not a strange child. She is friendly and outgoing and enjoys company. She loves to play video games and watch TV. She enjoys being active; playing outside, ice skating, playing soccer and riding her bike. When she’s cooped up inside she sometimes chooses to dance around the living room listening to music on the stereo. She also loves to read and she’ll never be a child whose reaction to receiving a book as a gift is a lukewarm thank you, but rather a smile of genuine delight.

As a parent as well as a as a writer I am really gratified by my daughter’s love of reading. Her mother and I have done our best to instill in her that love. She has always been read to and seen us reading. There are books always in the house for everyone and frequent trips are made to the library to borrow more. I’m pleased when I hear Maura say she wants to grow up to be a writer and I would not be surprised if she does, but I’m more proud that she is already a reader. It’s a big step toward whatever she chooses to become and one that I have no doubt will be a big help and pleasure for her through her whole life.