My girl can read

Quinlan has been reading for a few months now, but it's usually the compelling story of "The Big Pig," the always rhyming adventures of "Tim and Sam," or one of those "Read it Yourself" books that have absolutely no story line but are comprised of three-letter words and damnit they can read it themselves.

So last night when she read her brother an entire Dora book that he had just thrown at me and therefore had relinquished his rights to his mother reading it to him, I was impressed.

And weepy.

Also, I now realize that I'm screwed. But I guess already knew that.

She's also writing us awesomely sweet love notes that she silently hand delivers and then, even more importantly, reuses on the appropriate occasions. 

We couldn't be prouder of her eco-conscious efforts.

Yes, your parenting resume' is not complete without at least one nastygram, or really five, if you count the times she's handed this to me.

But even better than her letters are her books, which she spends all her free time at school and most afternoons writing.

"Princsses Girl" (Her first princess tale, surprisingly enough)
 

"The princesses groop is fun." Also, Pocohantas kills me dead every single time I see her.

But my favorite, thus far, is her first holiday book.

 

"Christmes *wrees are here for Lily" *worries

Worries? What worries could a little girl have at Christmas you ask?

"It is Christmes, I'm wree'd I'm not geting gif's."

Hmmm. On second thought, maybe this is the beginnings of a memoir - the names already changed to protect the "innocent." 

Comments

[Catherine]

If those comments are from her teachers, tell them to BITE YOUR ASS for how harshly they grade kindergarteners. When I was little we just got credit for finishing work! It didn't matter if it was spelled wrong or capitalized in the wrong place, heaven forbid.

[Karen (Submommy)]

t was a glorious day when Girl Child put it all together to read.

I explained to her, on a serious note, how lucky she was that she was taught to read, because there are girls in other countries who aren't allowed to go to school. I told her if she could read, her world is open to her.

I'll take a nastygram now and then to know that she has the ability to express, in writing, how much she thinks we've fucked her up.

(Thankfully, haven't had any nastygrams. Mine are mostly love letters and the pictures du jour - Unipegasus at the moment - DON'T ASK! UGG!)

[mom101]

Holy crap, are "William" and "Rae" doing it in the teacher's lounge at your school or what?

[Rae]

I agree with William....after all your posts about your daughter's school, it is obvious that she is getting what she needs after all...so DO NOT take all the credit...give thanks where thanks is due!!!

[mom101]

Nothing makes a writer more proud than seeing the joy of writing in her children. I think it's just awesome, hatemail and all.

And Henry, whoa - holy flashback to summer camp Bye Bye Birdie performance!

[Woman with Kids]

A budding author, you must be so proud. I still have a couple of the boys first hate letters in their baby box (too much crap for just a baby book). I love her Christmas wrees...

[William]

Maybe you should "Thank" a teacher! It sounds like she has a great kindergarten teacher.

[tng]

Dude.
Pocahontas killed me dead, too. omfg. And MOOLAN. LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOOOOOVE Quinlan.

Also, 'Christmss worries are here for Lily,' is the best title EVER for a story. *sigh*

[Stacia]

Even her hate mail makes me smile. I love how their imaginations just take off, and I can't wait to see it happen with my own children ... even if there will most certainly be name-changing involved.

[Kami]

So cool. I love that you took the photos. When she has kids, they'll be priceless.

[Jaelithe]

My favorite drawing so far from my kid is one where a poor stick Mommy is chasing after her brain, which has fallen from her head and is bounding out an open door.

It's captioned "Lost yor mind."

[henry savage]

Yeah, I got a 16 year old, and I found his sketch pad one day and I'd been mutilated ala looney tunes by a buzz saw.
Kids!
I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
Kids!
Who can understand anything they say?
Kids!
They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
While we're on the subject:
Kids!
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
Kids!
But they still just do what they want to do!
Why can't they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What's the matter with kids today?
Kids!
I've tried to raise him the best I could
Kids! Kids!
Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons!
And while we're on the subject!
Kids! They are just impossible to control!
Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll!
Why can't they dance like we did
What's wrong with Sammy Caine?
What's the matter with kids today!

[Boston Mamas]

That rocks. I swear, we have to get our girls together. They are so similar.

No doubt there would be a proliferation of notes and artwork following.

[Erica]

Your little girl is quite an artist! and what great penmanship!

[Vicky]

My Mom kept a few of my nasty grams and recently gave them to me with my baby book. I thought I was sophisticated using the word, "ill" to describe how her cooking made me feel. So I ran away to the laundry room to prove my point as well.

[amanda]

Thank god for things like love notes and illustration narratives, takes the edge off losing the baby as a little big person emerges.

[Asianmommy]

Aww...that's adorable! It's so fun to see the world from your child's point of view.

[MamaBunny]

Oh yes, A. is writing notes; here is a recent one:
"Dear Daddy, Plees play video gams aftr I go to Bed. Love [signed her name]"
-- This was after hubby had squirreled himself away to play a video game, and she wanted to play with him before bedtime. He replied "after I finish this game", which by the time he did, it was time for A. to go to bed. She cried bitter tears that night.

[Holly Gault]

Talented girl, there.

[Michelle]

My daughter also used to write books. And we used to get love-notes. We still have one on our bed she made and stuck to it about 4 years ago "I love you Mum and Dad". She's 16 now. Hopefully any notes we get will continue to be of the love variety.

And if this is the beginning of Quinlan's memoirs, I hope that these are the bad years and life just gets better for her and you, otherwise you may have to live with the shame of being 'the worst parents ever" as documented by Quinlan! Then again, there is always Drew and Margot to reveal the true story. I believe first children always have it hardest, we practice on them and the youngest always get away with everything. So maybe Margot is your saving grace in the parenthood stakes. :)