I don’t really recall much about my childhood. Growing up with a seizure disorder, my memory has been all screwy. The seizures caused me to be on heavy medications as an infant and I was often in the hospital as an infant. As a result of all this, my education suffered. The tegretol (which was the medicine they finally decided to put me on) hindered my physical and cognitive abilities.
The beginning of first grade I was in a special reading group and had a private reading tutor because I was unable to decipher what was before me. However, once I was weaned of the meds it was like a fog was lifted from my eyes! I began to read more and more and by the end of that year I was blasting through Harry Potter novels like they were nothing and comprehending things several grades above my level.
Reading opened doors for me that I never knew possible. It allowed me to see the world through brand new eyes and explore life through the pages of a book. By the fourth grade I was pulled out of my class and given special projects because what we were doing in class was much too easy for me! All this was thanks to my reading.
You know, I have to thank my mother for my love of reading. Every night, she would come into my room and read a story aloud to me. One of my all time favorites was The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything. Looking back on it now, I have no idea why that story so enthused me… It was such a silly story about a little old lady running through the woods, scared s@!&less from these oddities flying out at her as she tried to make her way home. Maybe it’s because I’m such a scardie-cat myself and felt some odd connection to her? I don’t know…
Even as a little girl, I was such a little bookworm. While all the other kids were outside playing sports and running around, I would be sitting inside curled up with a fantasy novel or murder mystery. Not that my mother minded of course, since it was far better than sitting in front of the television like the modern day couch potato… But books always seemed more important to me. I’d stay up until two in the morning finishing a book because I just couldn’t put it down! What am I saying, I STILL do that!
I find it intriguing that reading got you through such a difficult phase in your life, a true inspiring story! As I was reading the paragraph where you stated that your favorite books that your mom would read to you being "The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything", I remembered the memories of my mother reading my favorite children's book when I was younger and how I would demand her to read only that book to me. I also feel a connection with the fact that you were a little delayed with your reading comprehension because it took me a while to learn how to read compared to my siblings. I was delayed until I was four years old, while my siblings learned at like three. But I commend all of your accomplishments in your short life thus far, and I know you'll continue to get even smarter and excel!
ReplyDeleteI like the story in the beginning about how in the hospital you were attracted to reading, and it was a good outlet. And the book you decided to write about is a really cute book. I like that you said when you were a little girl you were a bookworm, because I myself was too. I also like that you continue to keep reading and enjoy till this day. I think reading can teach a lot of people a lot about the world and help to further their other skills.
ReplyDeleteI was the same way as a kid... in middle school and even freshman year I would be the kid who checks out 50+ books out of the library in one school year. Sometimes I was ridiculed for my love of reading but i dont regret a single word.
ReplyDelete;v; 'Tis Al. You are much more sophisticated than a couch potato. You are a couch parfait! No, a couch pudding covered in sauce and topped with raspberries! Now I'm hungry... But yeah, good for you, Ms. Murder Mystery First Grader :D
ReplyDeletehehehehe xD
DeleteYou're a trooper Sarah, it seems as though you powered through anything that got in your way. i will also stay up late haha
ReplyDeleteNo h! :P
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