I may have mentioned before that I am a completely crap reader of stories as far as a listening audience is concerned. I could never read out loud in class (especially after mispronouncing the word organism as orgasm - it did get a laugh though), and now I struggle to read to our toddler Little Miss.
It is not that I am borderline illiterate, although if you read what I write you could be forgiven for thinking this, it is just that my reading voice tends to be a monotone. It is completely lacking in inflection or expressiveness of any kind. Wife has unkindly suggested that this is an accurate reflection of my emotional state, and a lack of connection to my inner child. Personally I think it is more to do with a complete lack of artistic bent of any kind, in any of the arts, and reading out loud is really just an extension of acting - which I would not even attempt.
But this is quite a long digression from my point, even for me. The other night I was reading to Little Miss one of her current favorite stories ‘Dora the Explorer and the little Wuzzle’ - something like that anyway.
In this story the Wuzzle opens a bag of wishes that then escape from the book Dora is reading. The Wuzzle chases the wishes out of the book and into Dora’s world and Dora and Boots help the Wuzzle find the 3 wishes so he can return home. Of course Dora and Boots have the assistance of their usual cast of cohorts such as Tico, Map, and Isa. Although I think ‘Backpack’ may be a no show for this story - at least in the paper version, I am not sure if he made it into the filmed version or not.
Anyway after finishing the story Little Miss asked me to hold the book lower and then proceeded to try and stand on the book. When asked what she was doing she looked at me and informed me she was trying to ‘get into the story’. Apparently between the Wuzzle coming out of a book in the story and my Wife’s repeated pronouncements that she ‘Really got into such and such a book’ Little Miss had convinced her self that a book was some kind of portal that you could climb in and out of……… you know she may be on to something there.
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Well at least we know monotonous voice or not, Little Miss was still getting into the story regardless!
And, if it’s any consolation, I was once emcee-ing a friend’s wedding reception. After the first session & coming back to my table, Mummee said I should loosen up, “This is not one of your presentations, & even that, you would still put your audience to sleep during your presentation..”
After the second session, Mummee then said I overdid the loosening up. “It was a bit too much, dear”.
It probably wasn’t any consolation, I know…
So cute that Little Miss tried to “get into the book”. Kids are just so literal and straight forward.
Once I was trying to get Micah to sleep when he was already really tired but still running around, and I said, “Go sleep, Micah. Your eyes look like they are going to pop out.”
He was actually terrifies and lay down and closed his eyes and asked if his eyes were really going to pop out.
Another time, my sis said to her 2 year old to go get her diaper change or it;s gonna explode. Micah turned to me and asked if the diapers were really going to explode and how?
So cute that Little Miss tried to “get into the book”. Kids are just so literal and straight forward.
Once I was trying to get Micah to sleep when he was already really tired but still running around, and I said, “Go sleep, Micah. Your eyes look like they are going to pop out.”
He was actually terrified and lay down and closed his eyes and asked if his eyes were really going to pop out.
Another time, my sis said to her 2 year old to go get her diaper change or it’s gonna explode. Micah turned to me and asked if the diapers were really going to explode and how?
JLow - I can relate to your pain. I am firmly convinced that there is no safe middle ground as far as Wife is concerned - I just always seem to be too one way or the other. Don’t know why she keeps me around to be honest.
Moomykin - you hit the nail on the head. Toddlers are just so literal in everything. It really does point out just how much nuance etc. there is in our languages when someone does that. Also means I have to be very careful with my instructions or I will find Little Miss trying to put soap in the fish tank to ‘clean it’ again …….
That is great! My wife got a kick out of this story when I mentioned it to her yesterday.
It is the little experiences like this that make something as simple as story time such a rewarding time to share with your kids.
I know what you mean. Whenever I read bedtime stories I can’t stop yawning. The more I think about it, the more I yawn.
P.S. Great blog. Toddler Daddy and Suburban Daddy lead very similar lives.
Derek, you are right in that it is the small things that make it worthwhile - let’s face it they would have too just to make up for the lost sleep and tantrums
SuburbanDaddy - I know what you mean, a couple of times Wife has had to sneak in a wake me when I have fallen asleep at story time.