Reading to children

This was the question posed by People's Friend this morning:

A new survey has named "Snow White" as the nation's favourite fairytale, and the Evil Queen as the scariest fairytale character. Just as scary, in our opinion, is the finding that two thirds of parents don't read to their children every night! Do you think it's important to read stories to children? And what's your favourite fairytale?

And of course I answered. I mean, I feel really strongly about the reading to children thing.
And I can't believe that so many parents don't read to their children. 

 My answer:

The importance of reading to children can't be emphasised enough for me. It is so much more than reading children stories. The time spent in a comfortable embrace with a parent, the tone of voice, the language repeated and then learned, the issues discussed afterwards. Reading to children is an invaluable part of their development. My own children, adults and parents now themselves still love me reading to them, especially poetry. We have some family favourites, one of which is the May Queen, by Tennyson. Yes, I would say to mums, one of the best things you can do is to read stories to your children. My boys still love all Michael Morpurgo's books, especially Kensuki's Kingdom.

I do have some happy memories of enjoying books together when all my children were growing up. I used to look forward to it immensely. I never just kept it for night time. I could be persuaded to read to them at any time of day. Some days when there was no school and we were into a story we would spend the whole day, with limited refreshment breaks, living in another world together.  

Answering this question has made me realise how much I miss that time. It was such fun and so therapeutic. 

I do have the grandchildren to read to now, but it's not quite the same. 

It is a parent and child bonding thing I think. 

Right, saying goodbye . Going to try and write a poem. Let you know how that goes next time.

Is

14th July 2016

Looking back again at the beginning posts and it's day two.

I've played a little with the "sort of " poem I wrote for that day. I remember well the feeling of wanting to make the most of every single day and all the minutes it contains .

Is

We shouldn't dally

In the was of before, 

 The past is gone and

We can't change it

Nor dance 

In the will be of the future

 It may never come

For us

But rather - swim 

In the is of now 

Where we can enjoy

The gift of

This present moment.

But just sometimes memories come and play

 with your today.

Such a handsome couple my ma and pa.

And this from 26th May 2015:

Sunday:  Well, it's day two and I've managed to get back to my blog to be able to post again, which is amazing.
Some trivia:
I was trying to get to my writing ( some poetry) but was distracting myself with social media and getting cold into the bargain. My lovely husband then suggested we go for a walk in "the sunshine". Now whilst I could see that the sun was shining it seemed clear to me that the temperature was not reflecting the fact.
I decided to go anyway and if I was still chilly when we came home I could take a hot bath.
The wind didn't encourage me , but I thought, half an hour wouldn't necessarily turn me into a block of ice.
Then everything changed when we found a sheltered spot in the gardens on Herne Bay seafront. Without any breeze at all it didn't take me long to warm up . We spent a good while, "enjoying the sunshine" and  watching the world go by and I was reluctant to leave, even when hubby suggested a "nice cup of tea" back home.
And now I think my creative writing is going to have to wait till Tuesday at the earliest as it's Bank Holiday tomorrow and we plan to be playing at another seaside with some of the grandchildren. We are looking forward to sand in our sandwiches . Let's hope it's as "sunny and warm" as it was today. I will be taking a blanket. It is England, after all, and still only the month of May.
I am now going back to the quiet. Just the two of us this evening. We did have three others here earlier and probably a few will be back tonight, but for now we just enjoy the moment.

Monday:
Well, we've been with the grandchildren. Weather not brilliant but in the woods it was just right. A long walk and a delicious picnic with lots of little events on the way. It just made me think that :

Poem at top

Catch up with you all again soon.

My First Ever Blogpost

It's amazing looking back at my first ever blogpost. As you will see at the end of this it was a short piece written just over two years ago (24th May 2014)  that just explained what I was hoping the blog would be.
Joanna had got married in the February that year and things had sort of settled so I was trying this new idea out to see if I could get the hang of it.

Well I certainly did . I've been blogging off and on since then , sometimes not as  much  as other times, but always coming back to it. A lot has happened in those two years . Five new grandchildren, and a first great grandchild. A move to a new house - downsizing. The deaths of an uncle , my mum and dad and a few good friends , one in particular will be missed  - dear Sonia. And much more. Life doesn't stand still and we can't either.  

The summer is racing by and whilst we had great plans for the garden and the decorating of the house we  put the family and all their needs first. But it will all get done in the end. 

So here it is. The day I started this madness:

24th May 2014

Ok, so here goes. Let's see how I get on with a blog. No idea what I'm doing but I trust that  it will work.
And I hope, if anybody ( yes you) does come to read it, that they will enjoy it and enter into conversation with me. And maybe we can do some "putting the world to rights" or something.
Just heard on the news that they found the upturned boat that the four British sailors were on with the life raft still attached, which means that they are dead. Very sad news indeed. My heart goes out to the families whose hope has now been dashed.
But stars only shine in the darkness and I believe that even from this painful situation good will emerge.
I did shiver when I thought of them drowning, though. That would be my least favourite way to die, I have to say.
So, what will I write on this  blog?
I think I shall answer all sorts of dilemmas. The sort that they have in the women's magazines. And if you have a different opinion then by all means let me know. It could make for an interesting chat. It would be like you were in my kitchen joining in the debate. For today I just want to see if I can get started.
So God Bless.
Talk again soon.