Reading with my kids has always been a highlight of my day, serving as a vital way for us to connect. Whether we’re driving in the car, sharing a meal, or enjoying a game, those moments of quality time are precious. However, nothing quite compares to the peacefulness of curling up with a book together.
My twins are now 8, and my eldest is 10. Ever since they were newborns, I’ve been reading to them—our shelves overflow with board books, picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels. I read to the twins at the same time; while their interests align, they often have different preferences, requiring a bit of negotiation to find the perfect tale for the night. With my oldest daughter, we’ve journeyed through multiple series based on my recommendations. Recently, I’ve noticed my kids starting to read independently on some evenings, which has altered our routine.
I cherish our nightly story time and find myself missing it on the evenings when they choose to read alone. I miss the shared laughter and dialogue that come from our storytelling sessions. Yet, I feel proud of their growing independence. On nights when they read solo, I usually dive into my own book. However, after a conversation with my eldest, I decided to start reading the books she was enjoying, snuggling up beside her as she read.
When my 10-year-old daughter finally expressed her excitement to begin the Warriors series, I was thrilled. After weeks of encouraging her to give it a try, I was eager to experience it together. But she surprised me when she declared, “I’m reading it by myself.” Initially disappointed that we wouldn’t be sharing this journey, I quickly shifted my focus to the fact that she was embracing something new.
Halfway through the first book, she couldn’t contain her excitement and wanted to share the plot, but was frustrated that I was unfamiliar with it. In a moment of inspiration, she suggested, “You can read it too!” Admittedly, I wasn’t overly eager to shift my reading time to delve into a story about wild cats. However, I realized that I could integrate our reading into our daily lives, and I downloaded the book to listen to while cooking or winding down at night.
We ended up reading the second book side by side—she with the physical copy and me through my Libby app. It meant a lot to her that I was able to engage with her about the book, even if we read them separately. I’ve adopted this approach with my twins as well, diving into titles like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Phoebe and her Unicorn, even if they aren’t my top choices, because I value our discussions about the stories they love.
I know there will come a day when they may prefer a simple goodnight hug rather than sharing stories, and they might feel embarrassed by my involvement in their interests. I won’t intrude too much, but as long as they want to include me, I’ll find ways to connect through our shared love of books.
While I won’t be rifling through their journals or reading personal notes, I can’t promise I won’t keep tabs on their interests. I’ll likely skim through the books they read, even those for school, hoping we can still have meaningful conversations about our literary adventures. If I have to engage in a bit of literary espionage to keep that connection alive, then so be it.
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In summary, connecting with my children through reading has evolved as they’ve grown, but it remains a cherished part of our relationship. As they develop their own interests, I’ll adapt and find new ways to engage with them through the stories they love.
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