The Gift of a Book!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

 

Years ago, when our girls were very young, my husband started the tradition of buying them one special book for Christmas.  He has always been an avid reader and cannot go more than one day without a book. I love to read too, but our book choices are very different. When our girls were in elementary school, part of their curriculum was to read or be read to every night. The parents were supposed to sign a worksheet that the reading was done. I am not trying to start a big debate, but I hated the thought of reading being an assignment or a chore, although I knew it was necessary.  I had one daughter who found school to be very tough and doing homework every night was excruciating.  Most nights it ended with her in tears and me ready to start a petition at the next PTA meeting to ban homework until she graduated.

We would finish all the homework and then I would turn to her and say, “We need to do twenty minutes of reading,” and usually, that statement was not met with a positive response.

I worried that she would never learn to love reading. I have to admit that I tried once to sign the paper that the reading had been done when, in fact, it had not been done.  I assured my girls we would read double on the weekend only to have my oldest write “did not” with an arrow next to my signature, thus thwarting that time saving technique. That particular daughter was big on arrows back in those days and would often draw pictures of me towering above everyone else and write “biggest” with her lovely arrow in case someone was not able to piece that information together.

All year, I listened and remembered what each girl talked about and always tried to pick out Christmas presents based on that in mind. I put a lot of time, energy, and thought into my gifts. I still do. When I married my husband, I quickly found out that another type of gift giver existed.  The type of gift giver who operates strictly from a list, goes out a few days before Christmas, and likes to give clues as to what he might be getting you, “where did you say the coat is you wanted?” and then when you tell him, mentions he has to go to that store in the mall.  The first year he placed his wrapped gifts under the tree, I guessed what every single one was by his wrap job and he was dumbfounded that I cracked his code and figured out I was getting a tennis racket and tennis balls.   He now prides himself on wrapping nothing and gets our daughter to do it for him. In fact, she wrapped her own gift one year and we all cracked up when she said, “Hey, didn’t I wrap this and didn’t I see you reading it too?” He just smiled and despite the food prints inside the book admitted nothing.    The one thing he does do every year is label the gift tags on my gifts and I have to say I do laugh when I read them. I have had gifts addressed to Mama bear from Papa bear and once I had one addressed to Smokin’ Hot Mama from Your Fire Extinguisher, which had the added effect of making our daughters gag on Christmas morning.

 

So, keeping all this in mind wouldn’t it seem like our girls would favor my well thought out gifts over his one book apiece gift.  WRONG! From the time they were old enough to understand they were getting a book, every year one of them would say, “Can we open Dad’s gift first?” and I would sit back in my exhausted state and think, “the man who showed up for another Christmas morning in his Where’s my Carrot? pajama bottoms won again.” No gift I bought them could ever compete with that book and believe me I tried. Sometimes, I would say, “I wonder what is in this great big, beautifully wrapped box marked Megan.  Could it be Justin Timberlake stopping by to say hi?” only to have her say, “Good one, mom. I almost fell for it. Now, hand over dad’s book, please.”

Somehow, every year my husband picked out just the right book for our daughters.  Since I usually rate the books he reads and recommends to me between One to Four Big Yawns, this surprises me year after year.   Once, he tried to get me to read Life of Pi, which caused a bit of a tiff when I realized one page in I was not reading a pie cookbook written by an author that couldn’t spell pie. 

We may not agree on our reading material, but our girls read every book he picks out for them. He spends a lot of time figuring out that one book and now gets our son-in-law a book each Christmas. I think it is his favorite gift too.  Both our daughters love to read and the daughter who had such a hard time in school, can’t go one or two days without a book. I really do think, but please don’t tell him I admit defeat, that he should win every year and the love of reading might be one of the best gifts he every gave them.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Love the post, Laurie. Your DH giving books is amazingly dear. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Deanna, I would have done exactly the same :)

F, Thanks for the advice. I will tell my Santa.

Nancy, LOL on the six year old :) I don't believe I have seen my DH read to the dogs YET. LOL

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My absolute favorite thing in the world is to read - to myself, to others, to the dogs.  I tried to impart that to our children, my students, my granddaughter.  So far my imparting has only netted one real and true reader (i.e. reads like I do) who threw a tantrum at age 6 because we unexpectedly stopped at a restaurant and she didn't have anything to read while waiting for her food!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Charming last thought. I love the fact that my kids read too. BTW, I really would recommend getting a tablet instead of just a reader. I took my Xoom with me last spring, stayed in touch and read.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Laurie - Of course he took full credit, feigning forgetfulness - "Oh yeah, now I remember what that is..."  Gotta love him!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Deanna, I cracked up all through your post. I used to make him and the kids Easter Baskets and he would ask me if he could have the leftover stuff and finally I just made my own :) Did your DH take full credit when the recipients unwrapped the gifts from him? I am still laughing picturing this...........

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

As much as it has pained me, in past discussions I've had to give my husband a great deal of credit.  He's the one who makes the coffee in our house; he's the one who does the lion's share of the cooking; he's the one that feeds Sedona, picks up her poop, drives her to the groomer, etc.  However, NOT SO regarding this particular gift giving topic.  I'll admit, over the years my husband has given wonderful, thoughtful presents to his family, my family, and our daughter.  I know exactly how much thought went into the selection and purchase of said gifts because I was the thinker-upper, buyer, and wrapper.  Often the first time he'd see the gifts he'd "given" was as the recipients unwrapped them.  At least he used to buy and wrap gifts for me.  This year, he asked for hints regarding what I'd like for Christmas, so when I found something on-line I thought I might need or want, I tried to give him the link to the site.  He said it would be a lot easier if I'd just go ahead and order it myself while I had the site open.  Oh well, guess I'll just have to be content with having good coffee, good food, and a great doodle daddy!    

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Karen, Our Borders closed down and we all miss it so much. There is just something to be said for going into a bookstore and holding those books. Internet shopping doesn't do it for me where books are concerned :) Barnes and Noble is quite a long drive, but we have a date there before Christmas. Your DD is sure easy to buy for at this time of year.

Jane, Thanks. I can't wait when my kids have kids and I can sit back and crack up too...LOL!!

Thanks, BG and Mimi.

Margaret, My dad died in 1988 and he was an avid reader too. He always had a book in hand. I am sure you miss your mom every day, but holidays are hard without a parent. Two or three books at a time is quite a feat. I hope you can find some way to incorporate your mom's love of books into your Holiday season.

Allyson, I will tell Santa :)

Donna, LOL to your Life of Pi comment :) Both my girls love Harry Potter too. I have never read one and really need to do that soon.

Thanks, Sherri. I will take your recommendation under consideration. LOL I HATE Sci-fi....the worst IMO.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We are big readers here, too, and I think that's one trait that does get passed down. My DD only wants Barnes and Noble gift cards this year...that's her whole wish list! My wish list would include more bookshelves, lol!

I love giving books for gifts.

Your DH sounds like quite a guy, and a super father. I'm sure his tradition of giving books for Christmas will be passed down!  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh Laurie, you brought back all the stress that went along with HOMEWORK with the kids....nightmare.  It cracks me up because now our own DDs are going through this with their kids...I just laugh.  Your DH seems like a very special guy and I'm sure your girls will always consider this a very special part of XMAS.