It's a bit embarrassing to admit that a line from a sitcom changed how I view the world, but Parks and Rec was the first time I heard the Roosevelt quote "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.", and it permanently changed something in my brain.
May we be fortunate enough to have children that internalize even some small part of these lessons.
One of my clearest memories of the Boxcar Children books is one where they are trying to cheer up a cranky elderly woman and make her a drink with a raw egg in it. So maybe don't take cooking advice from them either.
“But books are what form us, aren’t they? Wasn’t Jesus Himself the Word made flesh, to dwell amongst us? Being shaped by what we read, by what is communicated to us in language, in the Bible, is a foundational tenet of the faith I share with my children. I don’t equate the Boxcar Children with the word of God, but I do think that good children’s literature—good literature for any age—is a means of common grace, a gift to point us back to the mind of the Maker. To be built up, bit by bit, in listening to and learning from stories about good character and thoughtful choices and honest work—that is how I want my children to learn. It isn’t a one-and-done ticket to maturity, or an easy way out of the hard task of teaching principles (my own repetitive work!) but a constant creation that will last their lives.”
We have two library reading programs. One goes to 100 hours. The other to 20. I too only count chapter books for the 20 hour program but everything for the 100 hour.
I loved these books so much. And I've been thinking, too, about the larger purpose behind my own writing and creative projects, and this feels related and timely in that regard too. Not that we authors set out to Teach A Lesson (at least most of my favorite writers don't) but we can't help but be saying something with our books, right?
Yes! I like that the books aren't embarrassingly moralistic; the themes undergird the characters' choices, but they don't all end with a self-aware whap to the head about Why We Should All Do the Right Thing.
I’m in the thick of it with the audiobooks now! My girls love them. I wish that hard work trumped talent in music studies though. It’s super annoying that Violet can perform on her violin the same day she begins to learn it without sending Benny into hysterics.
The Boxcar Children audio books were on constant repeat when my daughter was younger. We might just be ready to do it and again with my five year old! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for writing this! I loved the Boxcar Children growing up, and I was just wondering recently if my 5yo would be old enough to start listening to them! She loves mysteries, and I’m so excited to share more of the books I loved as a child with her.
It's a bit embarrassing to admit that a line from a sitcom changed how I view the world, but Parks and Rec was the first time I heard the Roosevelt quote "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.", and it permanently changed something in my brain.
May we be fortunate enough to have children that internalize even some small part of these lessons.
🥹 This brought me back so vividly to my childhood summer reading.
One of my clearest memories of the Boxcar Children books is one where they are trying to cheer up a cranky elderly woman and make her a drink with a raw egg in it. So maybe don't take cooking advice from them either.
That's Mystery Ranch! 😆 Raw eggs were the OG protein supplement
This paragraph you wrote rang so true with me:
“But books are what form us, aren’t they? Wasn’t Jesus Himself the Word made flesh, to dwell amongst us? Being shaped by what we read, by what is communicated to us in language, in the Bible, is a foundational tenet of the faith I share with my children. I don’t equate the Boxcar Children with the word of God, but I do think that good children’s literature—good literature for any age—is a means of common grace, a gift to point us back to the mind of the Maker. To be built up, bit by bit, in listening to and learning from stories about good character and thoughtful choices and honest work—that is how I want my children to learn. It isn’t a one-and-done ticket to maturity, or an easy way out of the hard task of teaching principles (my own repetitive work!) but a constant creation that will last their lives.”
I loved loved these books as a 7-9 year old.
We have two library reading programs. One goes to 100 hours. The other to 20. I too only count chapter books for the 20 hour program but everything for the 100 hour.
I loved these books so much. And I've been thinking, too, about the larger purpose behind my own writing and creative projects, and this feels related and timely in that regard too. Not that we authors set out to Teach A Lesson (at least most of my favorite writers don't) but we can't help but be saying something with our books, right?
Yes! I like that the books aren't embarrassingly moralistic; the themes undergird the characters' choices, but they don't all end with a self-aware whap to the head about Why We Should All Do the Right Thing.
I’m in the thick of it with the audiobooks now! My girls love them. I wish that hard work trumped talent in music studies though. It’s super annoying that Violet can perform on her violin the same day she begins to learn it without sending Benny into hysterics.
HAHAHAHAHA I didn't think of that but you're absolutely right! I'm guessing old Gert never played the violin herself.
The Boxcar Children audio books were on constant repeat when my daughter was younger. We might just be ready to do it and again with my five year old! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for writing this! I loved the Boxcar Children growing up, and I was just wondering recently if my 5yo would be old enough to start listening to them! She loves mysteries, and I’m so excited to share more of the books I loved as a child with her.