Something a little different this week. I want to share a piece of writing I submitted for a wonderful course I took back in 2019. The course was called The Quiet Words (you can immediately see why it appealed) and was run by none other than Huma Qureshi
Utterly wonderful piece, thank you. I had a surprisingly emotional reaction (bursting into tears - and I don’t cry easily) to the boys who were not read to at home and then began reading to each other. This made me feel so incredibly sad for them and then filled my heart with joy that they would do that for each other at home. I have twin boys (and an older son) so perhaps that’s why. My hurt hurts at the thought anyone would not want or be able to read to their child.
I also laughed out loud at the ‘big nose’ girl and ‘hands on hip’ boy, I can hear it and see it all so clearly. I might just see if my local school needs a volunteer...
I'm in total awe of your commitment here, what a lovely thing to do. I'm sure it's appreciated very much by the children, parents and teaching staff. 🙏 I was rubbish at anything like that when my kids were at school, I've said before I'm sure the centra character in Motherhood is modelled on me 🤣 World Book Day used to fill me with dread. I'm sure my son just put a Man U shirt on one time and went as David Beckham, not sure what that had to with books but he seemed to get away with it. 🤣
Your words reminded me of digging VERY deep some evenings to find patience and humour whilst running Beaver scouts. I would come home and (to paraphrase you) sit in a daze, relishing the the joy-inducing evening triumvirate of peace, quiet and good gin xx
Utterly wonderful piece, thank you. I had a surprisingly emotional reaction (bursting into tears - and I don’t cry easily) to the boys who were not read to at home and then began reading to each other. This made me feel so incredibly sad for them and then filled my heart with joy that they would do that for each other at home. I have twin boys (and an older son) so perhaps that’s why. My hurt hurts at the thought anyone would not want or be able to read to their child.
I also laughed out loud at the ‘big nose’ girl and ‘hands on hip’ boy, I can hear it and see it all so clearly. I might just see if my local school needs a volunteer...
I'm in total awe of your commitment here, what a lovely thing to do. I'm sure it's appreciated very much by the children, parents and teaching staff. 🙏 I was rubbish at anything like that when my kids were at school, I've said before I'm sure the centra character in Motherhood is modelled on me 🤣 World Book Day used to fill me with dread. I'm sure my son just put a Man U shirt on one time and went as David Beckham, not sure what that had to with books but he seemed to get away with it. 🤣
Wonderful piece, Claire! You have captured the infant classroom, warts and all, (or should I say wees and all!) so brilliantly! Xx
Your words reminded me of digging VERY deep some evenings to find patience and humour whilst running Beaver scouts. I would come home and (to paraphrase you) sit in a daze, relishing the the joy-inducing evening triumvirate of peace, quiet and good gin xx
This is a lovely piece - the image of the mess and hands on hips gesture made me smile.
Thanks for sharing this piece, it brought back many fond memories of my own time volunteering as a reading tutor in schools.