4100 Pages

We just finished the Harry Potter series. We started five years ago and have tackled one every summer, and some during the winters in between. I have read each of those 4100 pages out loud to my kids. The first book starts with such innocence and it perfectly matched where Riley and Seth were at the time. As Harry grew and matured, so did they, right in step with him.

The last book gets very dark, and it is appropriate that they didn’t read that book ’til this year. They can handle it now. They couldn’t have before.

The first one we started on a porch swing at a house we were renting when we first moved to CLE. The kids were 8 and six. The rest have been read snuggled together on our king sized bed, or I’ve read to them while they’ve eaten dinner on evenings that Todd worked.

I have loved reading aloud to my children. I am almost ready to be done with it. I am tired. Seth might have one more series in his future, he wants me to read The Lord of the Rings to him. We’ll see.

I’ve already read him The Hobbit and also the Indiana Jones series and a bunch of other less meaty books. Mostly while waiting for his sister while she’s been at various therapies. He’s become quite the independent reader, but the fact that he still wants me to read to him, still wants that closeness, I might not be able to resist. It won’t be much longer, I’m afraid.

When we finished the last words of Harry Potter today, he was on my left, she on my right. Spontaneously, they both hugged me, and in doing so hugged each other and we stayed there like that, in a group hug on the big bed for a thoughtful while and then Seth broke the moment with, “What’s next?”

What’s next?

We are moving. They are growing up.

A chapter is closing.

When they think back on their childhoods, I hope they fondly remember Cleveland, and the boy with the lightening scar on his forehead, and the mom that loved them so much.

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10 Responses to 4100 Pages

  1. Kim says:

    Omg! I JUST started reading harry potter to roc on Monday!

  2. Carrie Link says:

    This is why you must continue to blog, at least occasionally, because YAMH. When Leo got older, Terry switched it to him reading to her. He read the last few Harry Potter books to her and she loved it. I do totally get being tired and ready to close that chapter!

  3. kario says:

    My kids are just about where yours are and my youngest still wants me to read to her, too. I figure it’s only fair since Eve got that treatment until she was nearly 13. The last one we read was “Where the Red Fern Grows” and we both sobbed at the end, so the next one will be a bit lighter. Bravo to you for reading an entire HP series – we’ve stuck to single books but it is so rewarding. I’m certain they will remember the books you read to them with a special fondness.

  4. Brenda Riesen says:

    New and wonderful adventures await you all. You are such a good Mom, makes me wish I could go back and do a redo! I have no doubt your children know they are loved.

  5. Naomi says:

    Oh my heart. You are a good mama.

  6. Meg says:

    What a milestone! I think reading aloud is part meditation and part performance – which is why, perhaps you enjoy it, even if it is exhausting. My A still loves me to read to her. We did (again) The Long Winter this past winter and we both loved it.

  7. Sheri says:

    Look up The Reading Promise. I haven’t read the whole thing yet and the writing of the book itself is not always super engaging, but I love the premise. We still love reading together, at all our ages. Joe and I used to read aloud to each other too before life got crazy with all these kids and tiredness, etc. I hope we find that lovely time again together, when we have more than a moment or two in a row. I love your family’s story and development in tandem with Harry Potter.

  8. Glori B. says:

    The Ranger’s Apprentice series is a good one to look forward to. I think your kids might enjoy these stories.

    Congratulations to you for getting through Potter. It’s a wondrous gift to have parents who read and share their love for reading.

  9. Leah says:

    What a beautiful post. It brought tears to my eyes as we are starting the first book now and Sophie will be 6 soon. I love that you read a book every summer. I hope to do the same. Your kids clearly love you and the time together. Good job, mom!

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