Dads Read Too

JER: “ Red Wagon ” by Renata Liwska is a book that took a while to grow on me.  The text is very simple and matter-of-fact: “That sounded like a chore.  Lucy didn’t want to do chores.”  Over time, this book reminded me of how consequential experiences felt as a child.  Every chore felt monumental, every hill seemed to be insurmountable, being outside in any rain felt like a torrential downpour, and I would be quickly overwhelmed with how dry and hot it was once the rain stopped (as if I had just forgotten the rain).  One of my favorite things about being a parent is the opportunity to witness my kids experience something for the first time.  Everything is an adventure, until you gain enough experience.  But I hope I can emulate my kids more and never lose my sense of wonder and excitement for life.  

JER: “ The Hobbit ” by J.R.R. Tolkien was really fun to revisit as an adult, and reconsider the messages as a parent.  I was worried it might be too heavy, or dark for my seven-year-old, Lake, but she loved it, and didn’t absorb any fear of the dark, Trolls, Goblins, Wargs, or Gollum.  My three-year-old, Ejler, had a hard time following it or enjoying it, but wasn’t otherwise affected by it.  What stood out to me most profoundly this reading was the effects of Greed and Tribalism.  I easily saw the increasingly wealthy 1% personified in the dragon Smaug - hoarding wealth to sleep on it.  The Dwarves, the Wood-Elves, and Lake People were only able to look past their Tribalism when they were faced with a sufficiently large and dangerous threat, being overrun by an overwhelming host of Goblins.  Bilbo Baggins was willing to give up his 1/14th share of the treasure to broker peace between the parties, but even giving up the Arkenstone might not have been enough...