The classics

There are so many things I love about being a mother. I used to think my favorites things were getting to give birth to a baby, nurse and care for a baby, watch a child learn to walk, learn to talk, learn to feed himself. Those things seem like such huge highlights. But lately, I've decided that really my favorite part of mothering is introducing my children to great literature. In the last year, I've just loved watching my oldest delve into Greek and Roman myths, Narnia, Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island, Encyclopedia Brown, Little House on the Prairie and this week, one of my favorites, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

But at least as fun is introducing the boys to some of my favorite children's picture books. I just love to see how much they adore Babar, Winnie the Pooh, Max and the Wild Things, Pierre, Paddington Bear, Thomas the Train (yes, from the wonderful series of original books) and many others. One of my goals for this year was to help them learn to also love Beatrix Potter. I have fond memories of my Momma reading me these stories, and so this year I endeavored to help my kids discover the humor and wonderful vocabulary of these little books. I'm delighted to know that I've truly succeeded. Mostly I know this because they frequently ask me to read from our collection of Beatrix Potter, but last week, I knew for a fact that my goal had been met.

A few days ago at breakfast, we were quietly eating and the boys were looking out the kitchen window. Suddenly, my 3yo just got up from the table and walked out the back door. I looked up completely surprised, and he looked back and said, with a confident and reassuring voice,

"It's OK. I'll be right back."

He was outside for a few minutes and then came back in.

"Don't worry, Mommy," he said. "Peter Rabbit was in the backyard and he was going to try to get our garden, but I scared him away. It's OK now."