Unexpected success

This morning was our first day back in routine after the Christmas holidays.  We dropped my six-year old off at school, and I was just thinking about what to do with my eight-year old homeschooler when he made a suggestion of his own.  “Dad,” he said, “can I go to the library and get some of The Elsewhere Chronicles books to read?”

Now, this might be normal behaviour for some eight-year olds, but mine is a numbers guy.  He does math for fun. He plays Sudoku. He programs. He only reads when I make him. So for him to suggest that he go get some books is remarkable, and to have him come home and actually read them is doubly so. It was amazing to have this unexpected success in an area that has been such hard work for us this far.

Of course, I know that one morning of voluntary reading is only a small step and that books are still likely to be a challenge for him, but it was an encouragement to me that the work we are doing is actually producing results, even if it feels like tough going sometimes.