There’s a stranger in my home and he unnerves me. I think it may be my son but I can’t be sure, as his features are always completely concealed behind some book. The bits of hair poking up look quite familiar and that is somewhat reassuring….but still.
He could be a tufted owl for all I know.
He could be a felon.
Whoever or whatever he is, his obsession with the written word is drawing suspicion throughout the household (and not to mention, greatly impeding his ability to help out).
Tonight my husband had had enough. Assuming (but not knowing, really) that it was his son trying to set the table with one hand while with the other, holding the latest Star Wars paperback closely to his visage, my husband addressed him bravely.
“Put. The book. Down.”
And at that point the masked man turned into…just a reader. Phew! I feel so much safer knowing his identity!
A little lonely, yes, but still much safer.
An empty nester before my time,
I used to do that. I remember a Thanksgiving where I brought a book to the table and read through dinner. What book is so captivating?
On the bright side, I think its wonderful that you have a little boy who likes to read – REALLY likes to read!
Hey, it’s better than having him sitting in front of a TV or video game. Read on! I think that’s kind of cool he can read AND set the table…(I may have to try that myself)
Ah, a child after my own heart. I also remember setting the table while reading! At our house I’ve got 2 bookworms, 2 not, and 2 too early to say.
Oh, how I remember those days! I was such an incredible bookworm that my parents used to punish me by taking away my books. Crazy, isn’t it?! Kudos to your young reader, and the joy of being so caught up in a story that the rest of the world goes by in a blur…
My son is reading the same books!!! He reads them in a day!!
I have children like this, they complain I am never happy, first I long for them to be able to read, then I want them to “put that book down”
At least he heard Dad tell him to put the book down. My bookworms are so far gone that I have to physically block their vision to get through to them when they are reading!
Well at least I know all our children will be in such good company! I have a few criminals here too :))
If I made my son put down the book he just read every label on every item in the fridge trying to find the milk. He could not pass words without reading them. He did eventually find other interests also.
To answer Jenn’s question, he has been reading books from the Star Wars series by Jude Watson (at the rate of one a day, like Jamie’s son).
And I was just as bad growing up, only I wouldn’t read at the table during the holiday meals. I would take my plate into my bedroom and read there! (I can’t believe my parents let me do that.)
Oh how about this? Have you ever been caught in the bathroom without a book and found that you resorted to reading the labels on the shampoo bottles?! 🙂
Ha! This sounds like me as a kid! I used to get in trouble all the time when I was reading instead of doing my work or worse, when I was supposed to be getting ready for school! I wouldn’t be caught going anywhere in the car without a book.
I still love to read and Margaret, I have to say I’m with you on the bathroom thing. If there is nothing to read, I’ll find anything: labels, trash, kleenex box!
Janet
I used to get into so much trouble for reading – I just really couldn’t put those books down! 🙂 My boys are well on their way to having this same problem – though I’m probably more lenient than my parents were. I don’t mind them reading all over the house – my son is currently reading Redwall by Brian Jacques – but I don’t allow it at the table if we’re all sitting down to a meal together. 🙂 He does have the same problem I had – he hears nothing if he’s reading – which can get you in trouble if you’re being told to do something!
I’m still a reader – it runs in the family – (my sisters are the same way) – and I have the same problem in the bathroom. At least the ingredients on a shampoo bottle can be a challenging read! 🙂 LOL!
~Jenny
Oh, how great!!!
Sounds like my Agnes!
So funny! The Star Wars books hijacked my fifth son when he was about 11 and he’s only recently come up for air, after devouring practically every book that’s come his way since. It’s a good thing. But we miss him. (I’m a bathroom bottle reader, too. The apple doesn’t fall far from the treelll)