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I need to get this blogging in order. I keep updating on odd days, and I like even numbers.

Yesterday, I had an epiphany. If you heard a pop and then smelled smoke around 1 pm, that would be the explanation.

School officially starts in 21 days. I have not done the "Mommy School" that I had planned. No time like the present, right? My youngest child is my biggest concern. He is going into the 3rd grade, and while is excellent in all subjects, reading is the bane of his existence.

He hates it. With a blue, flaming passion.

I was very concerned last year. Finally, his teacher was hearing my concern and agreed there could be a problem.

Long story short: he has no learning disabilities. He should be fine. BUT on the outside, it looks as though he is behind because he is one of the youngest in his class.

Anyway, one of the perks of being a 'guest' at the boys' school is that I get to pick their teachers. One of the drawbacks is that the teachers know me. There is that whole "teacher's kid" syndrome. It could only exist in my mind, but whatever.

The teacher I picked for him happens to be the teacher Nicholas had last year. Nicholas and Darrin are polar opposites of each other. This should be fun.

So, while we were cleaning yesterday, I got the idea that I could "pay" them for reading. As part of their chores for the day, they must read for 30 minutes. At the end of that time, they have to tell me about what they read. Nicholas wasn't thrilled, but picked his book willingly.

Darrin, well, if looks could have killed.

The book he picked on his own wasn't in his league. I finally helped him find one, and I set the timer for 30 minutes.

Seven minutes later, he came to me, asked about a word, and wondered how much longer. He was on page 2. I do not lie.

Apparently, having him read on his own was not going to work. So, I tried another method called Choral Reading. This is where the fluent reader (me) reads a paragraph, and then the other person (Darrin) reads the same thing with close fluency. It was going pretty good except I kept laughing.

The main character's name was Neil Parker. He kept saying "Neil-y's." I wasn't trying to make fun of him, it was just cute how he was saying it. Well, it ticked him off, and he started to cry.

Then, he told me that he hates reading. He doesn't want to read. He wants to grow up, live somewhere else, and work like Daddy does.

I started to cry.

So, today for our 30 minutes, I am going to do something else.

We will read, though. Darrin is the sweetest child (don't tell the other kids I said that) but is the MOST stubborn. He usually will only do things when HE wants.

He is so much like his father.