BIG Shoes to Fill

Maika got sent home with a list of what they think might be "fun" ways to do reading over their fall break. When I say "fun" I am talking about reading sitting on their bike, by candlelight, in the bathroom, etc. The teachers do this so there is incentive for the kids to read. The real incentive is if the kids take the paper back, they will get a prize. But do you think it makes me really want to take the extra time over break and read more with them than we already do? I am not that kind of mother...SORRY! I would rather the kids be able to enjoy their break and not have to worry about homework, so we didn't do it. In fact, when Maika told me he didn't want to do it, I tossed the paper in the garbage after seeing it sit on the floor for a couple of days. That was the end of that, or so I thought.


Maika went back to school after fall break and realized the treat the kids were getting was an airhead. (Yeah for me, more candy from school) When he came home that day, he was motivated to do the worksheet and asked me where it was. I told him that I threw it away because he didn't want to do it. LUCKILY, I had thrown it away that day and could still get it out so the tears would stop being shed. He looked at the paper and said he wanted to read with his Dad's shoes on. When he began reading, I looked over and thought it was cute how little his feet were in contrast to his dad's.

Then I thought more about it and realized he has some pretty big shoes to fill. He is well on his way though. Maika always follows his dad every where. If Cliff is not around, Maika will always make sure he finds out and then goes to meet him to help or just be around him.