Clever Ways to Inspire Reluctant Readers (or how Anansi Mommy tricked Jakey into Loving Books!)

Hello my friends of the Omschool! So teacher Omi hasn't always been an Omi (grama). First I was a mommy (isn't that nice how that works?) And one thing that is very important to me as a kid, teen, adult, mom AND Omi is reading. I love books and have a massive (like in the thousands) collection. Omi and Opie (grampa) have been reading to our four children and their children since they were infants.

But there was one member of the family who did not like books or reading or sitting on laps to read for any length of time. And that member was Jakob. It was boring to read and he had better things to do, like getting into mischief.  It took precious time away from playing with light sockets and other such dangers that he routinely terrorized his parents with.  He wasn't just a reluctant reader, he was recalcitrant, resistant and rebellious. 

Now I know this will worry you and it sure did me. You all love books and listen attentively to stories, I'm sure. Well, I was worried that Jakob would grow up to be illiterate and how embarrassing would it be for a TEACHER who loved books to have a son that did not. Not to mention how terribly sad it would be for him not to know the joy of reading. 

But don't you fret. Because this would-be sad tale has a very happy (and funny) ending. Our little book antagonist grew up to be their biggest champion and to delight in reading. He reads to his children now and they have many favorites too. But it didn't happen by accident. How it happened requires a story in itself. And one of my other favorite things to do is tell stories. So get comfy and we'll begin it. 

Now, there is a character in African folklore who is called Anansi. Anansi the spider by name and trickster by trade. All the great oral traditions of fables have one such character. Loki, Coyote, B'rer Fox to name a few. These characters love to play pranks. And as you may know, pranks can be hurtful if meant in a mean way. And Anansi the trickster is no exception. Some of his tricks are not so nice. Some also come back to bite him. 

But some turn out to be a good thing such as when he conned the sky god Nyame into giving out his stories to us. What does this have to do with Omi and Jakob? Well, Omi had to play Anansi and trick Jakob into listening to a story and thereby finding that he liked them. Here's how she did it. 

The other children were listening to Dr. Seuss stories and Jakob was, of course, monkeying around when he should have been paying attention. The other kids went off to play having enjoyed the books. And Omi decided that enough was enough. Jakob was going to sit and listen if it took me all day. I tried begging. And bribing. I tried to interest him in book after book to no avail. Finally in desperation, I pretended to give up. I announced that I was going to just read quietly to myself. 

I picked up a random storybook, "Milk and Cookies" (Frank Asch) as it so happens and read "silently" but making as much noise as possible. I gasped! And yelled "OH NO NOT THAT!" I acted terrified and then laughed really hard. And then shrieked in alarm.  Jakob, being very curious, came scurrying over to see what the commotion was all about. As he climbed up on my lap and demanded to know, I snapped the book closed and wouldn't let him see. 

I said (very dramatically) "Oh no, this is far too scary for you to hear!" And went back to noisily silent reading. He begged and pleaded to hear it. And finally I relented and read him the story. He listened with bated breath (never catching on that it was not scary at all). He demanded to hear "Mach and Cookies" three times in a row.  And from then on, when story time was announced, he was the first one on the lap. Our little rebellious reader who had turned up his nose at books could now always be found with his nose in one!  

So I can take some of the credit but not all. Mr. Frank Asch and Baby Bear deserve their fair share for helping me convert a sweet little rebel into a bibliophile! 

Helping grownups find joy in difficult or sad times (yes you can, children!)

Hello my friends of the Omschool! I'm talking specifically to children in this post. You have probably heard growups talk about all the bad news in the world. And that can be very scary. I remember when I was 5, in 1969, hearing about terrible things that happened to some people in a place called L.A. (Los Angeles, California). It was extra sad because it happened very close to my birthday. 

I felt scared then and sometimes even as an adult I feel scared, especially for my dear grandchildren and you who I think of as my friends too. I think lots of grownups feel scared and worried sometimes. They probably feel sad, like Teacher Omi, that we can't fix all bad things. And neither can you. But it's okay, my dear children. We don't have to. All that is asked is that we try and do our best to be kind, helpful, loving and joyful. And when we can't be those things, to say sorry and keep trying. 

Did you know it's okay to be happy even if bad things are happening? It is. I promise you. We're not happy ABOUT the bad things. We are happy just because, in spite of bad. If you believe that God loves you and I do, we can feel good to be alive. Not everything in your life is perfect. I know each of you lives with some things that are hard or sad or maybe even bad. I'm sorry for that. I wish I could fix it for you. I hope it  helps to know that you are not alone. That someone cares. I care. 

So today, just for today, let's look for things that make us smile. You could go for a walk. Teacher Omi and Opi (grampa) went for a walk on the beach yesterday. It was cold and rainy and so pretty. I took  my shoes off and ran through the wet sand. I admired a dog's big paw prints. I watched a grownup swing on a swing.  I dipped my toes in the very brr-chilly Lake Michigan water. It made me smile and then laugh! 

It made Opi laugh too! And that's another fun thing about finding joy. You can spread it to other people. You don't HAVE to make them smile, it's not your job. But you CAN share what makes you happy. And maybe it will make them happy too. When I was little, I liked to go for walks to the same beach with  my Opi Kinney. We would collect rocks, shells and driftwood. This made us both happy. 

It makes me happy now, and it makes me cry a little to remember times with my Opi and Omi now that they have gone to be with Jesus. It's okay to cry too. Sometimes, would you believe, an adult's tears come from joy? We're funny like that, aren't we?  So today, wherever you are, I hope you find some time to dig up some  joy treasure in your world. Whether you live in a hot desert in Israel or a cold tundra in Russia or an apartment in a big city. Whether your home is in a nice neighborhood in Cleveland, a little beach town in Muskegon or on a bayou in Louisiana. Or a farm. Or in a subdivision. There are wonderful things for you to discover, just for the looking.  

I would love to hear about the things you see and hear and find on your walk. You could leave a comment and picture if you like. It would make me smile to see you smile. Love is a circle, like that. What goes around, comes around and back to you! Here is a song about that explains this beautiful process, which you might like to sing on your walk. It was written by Carol Johnson a very nice lady I was lucky to meet. It's called "Love Grows One by One"

Blessings and peace to you, dear children! The picture is Omi and Opi exploring a pier and lighthouse!