Trial & Error & The Impressionable Young Mind

I'm so thankful for a good friend who I can have good conversations with.

This last week we sat under the warm sun on freshly painted chairs and talked about relationships, school, birds, God, frustrations, joys and books. 

My ten year old was playing outside and would swing by us to listen in. Do you remember doing that when you were young?! I can remember those months as I was still just a kid but curious about what all the adults were talking about. I don't remember anything specific after all these years, but it was interesting at the time.

So, we were there, discussing books. Which ones to read or not to read. Which ones we were challenged by or absolutely loved. I spoke about wanting to instill a love of reading into my kids but not knowing how exactly to do that. They have to read everyday but sometimes instead of getting caught up in a story, they just keep checking the time until they can be done. I try to give them beautiful, living books but want them to pick up something that they are excited and curious about so they will enjoy it. Even though a couple of them say they love reading, they will almost always choose something else to fill their time.

I am just at a loss of what to do.

Maybe they don't have to love it right now. Maybe they just put the time in and get surprised they actually enjoyed reading. Maybe they will love it later in life, like their mama, when they have questions that need to be answered and curiosities that need explored.

Anyhow, my ten year old was there listening in. He didn't say much. I didn't change what I was saying because he was there. But I wasn't really talking *to him either.

Today he told me he didn't want to read his current book anymore. His own words were, "I don't think God wants me to read this, Mom."
"Okay. So why not." I asked. (He has been reading The Hunger Games, because his sister just finished it.)
"It makes me think things I don't want to think. Things I'm not okay about."

We had a great conversation about listening to the Holy Spirit, how we won't/don't always agree with what we read but we can still learn from it, how it can in fact teach us how not to live,  how we need to look to the redeeming characters to emulate, and how if you really don't like it, you can put it down. 

My son has a very sensitive heart. But he also thinks very logically and analytical. I wasn't sure if it was such a great idea to let him read the book, but I trust him. And he ended up doing what he needed to do. For him, he needed to put it down and read something else right now. He may read it later in life. He may never finish. Who knows at this point.

But what I found interesting was that he asked for a book that was "wholesome", "good", and just "fun".

He had heard me say those very words the other day when I was talking with my friend.

For our school, we really do try to read the good, true and beautiful. I think their favorite read alouds have been the Ralph Moody books.

He tried a book out.  It turned out for him, it was an error. As a mama, I am fairly protective of what my kids are apart of and what they are reading, listening to, watching. I don't always make the best choice but I try to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. In this case, like I mentioned before, I trusted that he would know as he got into if it was for him or not. I'm not too hung up on the decision for the fact that it has given me huge insight with my son and what he loves and wants to be about and what he struggles with and doesn't like.

It was a good lesson learned.

He has requested books about presidents and inventors! He read a book about George Washington last year and it has kept with him. Trial and error has showed him more of what he likes and he is better off for it.

And because we just read Fables today, I will wrap this up with a "moral."

Don't be afraid of making mistakes. You can learn a great deal from them.

Also, we are all impressionable.