Friday, November 13, 2009

In Which I Brag About My Daughter

First, I want to mention that I am at Panera. It is rare that I ever get away, sans kiddos. Elizabeth is usually at preschool during this hour, but Henry is always with me. But not today!!! I snuck him in to the Y for their 3-hour drop off program. It only costs $12. This is way cheaper than a babysitter (babysitters run $10/hour*).

So I am at this moment taking a writing break. I pounded out some good (sorta) dialogue and noticed something: I don't have a single chapter break yet. I don't even know where I would put one. Is this bad, or a sign that I've got a page-turner? We will eventually find out, I suppose.

Yesterday on our way home from preschool, Elizabeth asked, out of the blue,
"Mom, you sometimes work, right?"
"Yes," I said. "Do you know what my work is?"
"Writing?"
I beamed. She knows. She understands.
"When I grow bigger can I read your books?"
I beamed brighter.
"Of course."
"But I can't read yet."
"You will soon." She doesn't know all of her letters yet, but she's working on it. She wants so much to read and write. (She has filled adult-sized journals with squiggly lines that look like a cross between 19th c. English penmanship and Hebrew.)

Then, after Henry was asleep, Elizabeth wanted to sit on my lap and be with me. I wanted to fix something on my computer. Or maybe I was reading some news story. I can't remember---it was after 7 p.m. and my brain is fried by then. Anyway, I asked her if she wanted to have me read the first part of my story, and she said "yes!" So I did. We only lasted half the page, but I read it slower, more storytelling-like, and...it was wonderful! (Not the writing...the reading of my own story to my daughter.)

I am getting jittery from thinking about the day when, I hope, Elizabeth goes to the bookshelf and pulls off a copy of one of my novels and then curls up on the couch with it. Or maybe I'm jittery from the coffee.

*Why didn't I make this much babysitting?!

8 comments:

www.janicecoy.com said...

Amber - Loved your post. You are writing a complex story while you raise your children - don't ever forget that! Keep on keeping on - I am an admirer =) Janice

Vijaya said...

Sweet! My kiddos *loved* my stories like no editor. Of course, I wrote stories just for them, in starring roles. When they were about 3-5, they'd *edit* my stories. And now, they're pretty good at it, squiggles and all. By the way, they also know how to pen rejection letters ... so watch out!

Jacqui said...

I just read Ant's story to Tink. It was my favorite read aloud ever. The best part was days later when someone did something and she said, "That is totally like in your book when..."

Meagan said...

I got paid $10 for babysitting 3hrs when I was in 7th grade!! And I was pumped cause that was a lot of money! Does the rescission not affect babysitters?

Nishant said...

r. The best part was days later when someone did something and she said, "That is totally like in your book when..."
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Anonymous said...

Fun post. I also look forward to the day my daughter will read one of my stories!

Val said...

Nice smile! Very natural, beam and positive.

kanishk said...

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