Doggone it...She Can Read!

My daughter just turned five and while every stage up to this point has been full of major milestones, the past few months have been very exciting as she's learning so much in preparation for Kindergarten (I can't believe it....)  The last few weeks she's started sounding out words and showing interest in reading.  She's memorized most of her favorite books but cleverly paraphrases and points out recognizable words.

There is such beauty in watching a child learn -  The look on their face when a concept "clicks" in their mind, the silent concentration when they try to figure out something on their own and the sheer elation that exudes from their skin when they accomplish it.  There's absolutely nothing like it!

Last night we had a rare moment where the just the two of us got to read a book before bed (little brother had a meltdown and was sentenced to bedtime).

She took the time to sound out words and her careful sounding out of letters is forever etched in my memory.

"S-I-C-K - The bear feels SICK!"  she shouted to me as the recognized letters leaped off the pages.

I enthusiastically encouraged her, "Sweetheart, you are reading!  You can read!  You are doing a great job."

These are the moments I live for as a mommy, especially as a working mommy who sometimes feels like I may be missing out on all the "firsts" the you always think will happen between Monday and Friday during business hours.

My daughter looks at me with great accomplishment and says "I can read Momma! I've gotta go tell Hexy".

Yep...our dog.

I'm glad I was there otherwise the dog would have been the first to know.