By Holly Engel-Smothers
Believe it or not, seeing you write is an important literacy booster for your children. Think of writing as the expressive side of literacy, while reading is the listening side of literacy. Now, I know many people dread writing, but take heart! The writing you do needn't be an essay or research paper like in high school or college.
Writing can be a wonderful way to add to the memories you treasure as your twins grow up. Like most moms, you probably record milestones and wonderful moments of growth in your twins' baby books. But if you're anything like me, I really felt empty after Bailee and Rilee's first birthday when my baby books ended. There were so many darling, sweet, smart, and clever things happening every day that I wanted to record and remember them. So, I began a journal-type notebook.
Using different binders, I save letters that I have written to my girls. Sometimes I write a letter and print it out from the computer. Sometimes I find a pretty piece of paper or a card to use. I date my entry and start the letter with "Dear Bailee." I want my girls to know what I was thinking and feeling as they grew up. I want my girls to know how special I thought every moment of their lives was. I want to remember more than what is captured in a picture. Then, when I finish my letter (always signed, From Mama), I slip it into clear sheets of report sheet protectors (found in the office section of stores).
One day, I will share my writings with my twins. I figure that someday, too soon, hormones will be raging in my house, and there may be some parent-teen conflicts. This is the time when I plan to share my letters.
Imagine being an angry, rebellious, nervous teen and having your mother sit down with you, reading and remembering all the glories and hardships you two have gone through. Imagine the teenager reading how much her mom has loved her since before she was born. How do you think that teenager will feel after she has tangible proof of her mother's love?
One of my letters is about when I had to leave the girls to go on a business trip. I lamented leaving them, even for a couple of days, because I loved them so much. Another page is a letter from Santa telling Rilee that she draws pretty pictures. Another letter is about how much Bailee loves kitty cats. Sometimes I wrote lists of words from their budding vocabularies. There are many letters to my babies following the attacks of 9-11.
Choose paper, pens, and markers that are fun for you. Keep them in a special spot so you can always find them. Don't worry about being neat. The spilled coffee stain on one of my letters reminds me of getting a great big twin hug and knocking the coffee over with my foot.
Write "love letters" to your little (or big) ones. Put on paper your joys, worries, surprises, and wishes. There are never too many ways to express your love, and keeping this type of journal is also a great way to demonstrate the expressive side of literacy.
[NOTE FROM SUSAN HEIM: This article is one of many from parent educator and mom of twins (and a twingle), Holly Engel-Smothers, who will be sharing her wisdom and expertise on the subject of reading through this "Literacy for All" column, which will appear on a regular basis on TwinsTalk.]