Andrews New Years Resolution For Kids

by Sarah
(El Paso, Texas, United States)

When my son Andrew was in the third grade, he decided to make his first New Years resolution. He had always been painfully selfconscious of his ability to read out loud ... he stumbled over simple words and phrases.

And now the other children in his class poked fun at his struggles when it was Andrew's turn to read aloud.

He became reluctant to go to school, and each day he pleaded with me to stay home. He became sullen, misbehaved in class, and his grades fell.

When school was ending for winter break, my son’s teacher suggested that we start reading aloud at home over the holiday to improve his skills and raise his confidence.

At first, Andrew was reluctant and argued with me when I suggested we read together. One evening as we browsed our local bookstore, Andrew came to me with a Star Wars book in his hands. His eyes brimmed with excitement!

I gladly purchased the book, and we began reading together that very night.

As the new year approached, Andrew began to enjoy our reading exercises. He decided to make it his new years resolution, to read aloud together whenever we could. It wasn't just for kids, I enjoyed it, too!

After the reluctant start, and the many times he became frustrated over hard words, his reading became smoother the more he practiced. By the time school started in January, he was actually volunteering to read in class!

I am proud that my shy little man overcame his reading struggles so quickly. The confidence he gained in that short time is amazing. I will forever be grateful for my son and his simple resolution.

Sarah