3.17.2011

Books are tasty

We've been down the things-that-are-tasty path before. Madeline's teeth are highly effective.

I can't exactly take off the window sills or remove her from her crib or take off the metal knobs on furniture (well, I could but I didn't).  But there was one thing that I used to keep away from her, and for good reason, see?


Once upon a time, I used to keep books far, far away from Madeline and her teeth. I would pull them down and attempt to read to her, but usually she was more interested in the new chewing object rather than looking at the pictures or listening to the story. She would pull the book to her mouth and go to town, so I would take the book away and place it back on the shelf in an attempt to keep it pristine. I did this for a couple of months and Madeline's only interest in books was to chew and chew and chew.

But then one day, I had left a book on the ground and she was flipping pages. The book kept her interest and she was studying the pictures when she was not chewing all over it. It was at that moment that I took the books down from the shelf and let her love, explore, learn, and yes, eat and rip the books to shreds. I wasn't going to keep the joy of books from her, no matter what the books ended up like.

That was a year ago.

  
 (Do you see her first Bible? Do you see that some of these are hard back books? Board books don't stand a chance with her...And these pictures don't even touch the surface...)

Madeline has never been the type of child that would sit still during a story. She wanted to turn the pages on her own and at her own pace. I would attempt to read the pages to her, but it was rare that we could get through a book. But we looked at pictures and I pointed out what things were.  She would turn the pages and point at things.

Now, she doesn't go a day without racing around declaring, "abook, abook, abook!!!" and backing up into your lap with a story to be read to her. She has to pause to point out everything she knows on the pages and "woof" at every dog, but she happily sits until the book is done and then trots off to get another "abook."  I was unsure if any of the text was seeping into her little brain until recently. Madeline has come up to me saying some of the words that are in the books and she knows what words appear on actual pages. And it makes me so proud!

So while our books are really torn up, ripped, chewed, and have holes all the way through them, they are also loved. They are read. They are used to learn words and sounds. And they will never be placed high on the shelf again.


I have a child. Objects in my home will get damaged, but things can be replaced. I am certain that Madeline will break something very important to me or lose something I treasure. While Madeline will be taught to respect belongings/things, I don't want to get so wrapped up in the tangible and temporary things that our life affords. I could have left the books on the shelf and they would still look nice.  Madeline loves her torn up books just as much as her books that have somehow avoided her teeth (and I would wager that she loves the torn up books more...). 

These well-loved books serve as a reminder that the things themselves aren't that important.

 
And that so many other things are...


2 comments:

Jessi said...

What a great post! Used books are loved books! Charlie is in the read the same book over and over phase. The book of choice changes every few weeks.

- Jessi

Freddie Taylor said...

Sadly, several items I treasured over the years were broken, damaged, lost, etc. In the end, though, you are right, Jen. No possession is greater or worth more than any of my kids. I love you all. You amaze me. I love your blog.