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...
Oh Tracey, that’s absolutely made my day. That my words have enabled you to feel things and see the pictures I want to share ❤️ I cannot recommend the experience enough and I’m sure local schools will be crying out for help, particularly after the pandemic x
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. 🤣
It was lovely to share this and revisit the memories of that time. It all stopped very abruptly with Covid and the schools closing. I’ve always grumbled about organising WBD costumes and this year my HP-mad girl had the full Luna Lovegood outfit sorted ... and school said ‘everyone in PJs’ 🤣 I think that’s much better actually, but she was gutted!
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
Oh my goodness, I can only imagine!! I think you’re an actual saint for doing that. But at least from this vantage point we get to look back on the very funny bits and the very rewarding bits, and the ringing in our ears becomes a more distant part of the experience 😂 xx
Very happy to transport you back to MMM and the flowery fabric sofa! I was thinking of you yesterday as we took MMM to school for a World Book Day reading session. Em was sitting with a group of girls who were giving all the pre-teen sassy vibes, while I'm reading about Mr Moggs the gardener and doing an excellent impression of Dum-Dum the duck!!
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...
Oh Tracey, that’s absolutely made my day. That my words have enabled you to feel things and see the pictures I want to share ❤️ I cannot recommend the experience enough and I’m sure local schools will be crying out for help, particularly after the pandemic x
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. 🤣
It was lovely to share this and revisit the memories of that time. It all stopped very abruptly with Covid and the schools closing. I’ve always grumbled about organising WBD costumes and this year my HP-mad girl had the full Luna Lovegood outfit sorted ... and school said ‘everyone in PJs’ 🤣 I think that’s much better actually, but she was gutted!
Wonderful piece, Claire! You have captured the infant classroom, warts and all, (or should I say wees and all!) so brilliantly! Xx
Thank you 😘 I had a feeling this piece would resonate! Really happy memories of those Thursday mornings 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
Oh my goodness, I can only imagine!! I think you’re an actual saint for doing that. But at least from this vantage point we get to look back on the very funny bits and the very rewarding bits, and the ringing in our ears becomes a more distant part of the experience 😂 xx
This is a lovely piece - the image of the mess and hands on hips gesture made me smile.
Thank you so much, Jess. It brought back a lot of happy memories rereading this. He was such a lovely character––older than his years!
Thanks for sharing this piece, it brought back many fond memories of my own time volunteering as a reading tutor in schools.
Oh I love that you've had that experience too. It was so rewarding, and rereading this made me want to go back and do it all over again!
Very happy to transport you back to MMM and the flowery fabric sofa! I was thinking of you yesterday as we took MMM to school for a World Book Day reading session. Em was sitting with a group of girls who were giving all the pre-teen sassy vibes, while I'm reading about Mr Moggs the gardener and doing an excellent impression of Dum-Dum the duck!!
Absolutely! ❤️