Art Friday: Mothers reading to their children


Art Friday: Mothers reading to their children

One of my fondest memories as a child is my mother reading to me. I think it is a memory that many children treasure in later years. 

"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him"
~ Maya Angelou ~


I strongly believe that mothers (and fathers) need to read to their children from a very early age, even as babies. Thought reading, children develop a love of literature and the desire to read for themselves. Books are the doorways to whole new worlds and it is tragedy when children are denied the key to access these worlds. 


"Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself"
~ George Bernard Shaw ~


Todays art is a treasure of paintings that depicts mothers and children reading together and they are all rather beautiful and touching. This Sunday is Mothers Day and I dedicate this Art Friday to all the children who have lost their mothers. I have a mother and I can't imagine the day when she is no longer in my life. Mothers are irreplaceable and touch our lives like no other person. They leave their imprint in all things we do and even though we all will loose our mothers, they really never leave us, they remain in our hearts and minds forever. So many things we do are a direct result of our mothers, from how we clean our homes, how we cook, bring up our children and the things we love - our mothers have had an influence over all these and more. 


~ HAPPY MOTHERS DAY ~


"A book is a dream that you hold in your hands" 
~Neil Gaiman ~













*****

Comments

  1. Very sensitive post for Mother's Day - remembering that for some of us it is a difficult day (and the commercial lead up to it odious) - thank you very much Jo!
    love,
    Bets

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are all so beautiful (too difficult to choose one favourite!). And yes, you never forget your mother and you often notice things you say or do that remind you of her, even after she is gone. I remember the last mother's day prior to my mother's Home-calling - I had two cards that I couldn't choose between that I wanted to give her. Normally I would have kept one for the following year. But that year I just gave her both cards anyway - and good thing, too because she wasn't long here in this world (less than 2 months). I do think though that every day should be mother's day, father's day, children's day - we should honour and love one another every single day!
    I think reading to one's children is a *super* important part of childhood and child-raising. I've heard of parents who waited until their child was "old enough" to understand before beginning reading to them -- it doesn't always work so well, because they find it hard to sit still and focus their minds like that when they're older. I began reading to my children when they were tiny babies and they have ALWAYS loved books. I also found then that I didn't need to take a heap of toys along to Lord's Day services/meetings to distract them/keep them occupied - they would happily 'read' books (the same ones) over and over and over again even while they were very small! :) And now - well, now they *consume* books. AND, they even enjoy reading the same books over and over again still - when we borrow books from our special library, they read the books again and again and it's hard for them to want the books to be returned because they're really contented to read books over!! Funny children! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They also still LOVE having books read to them - both audio books, and having Dan and I read to them - it's a big part of our day for me to read to them, actually. We read a lot of books aloud. They also love reading aloud to each other! :)

      Delete
    2. I read to mine from a very early age and let them listen to audio tapes when I wasn't able to read to them or for going off to sleep and both love reading (one more than the other). My mother read to me and I have very fond and warm memories of those evenings :))

      Delete
  3. Those are gorgeous paintings! I treasure those moments of reading with my children.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous post! I think you and I are alike, in our love of vintage images.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gorgeous post! I think you and I are alike, in our love of vintage images.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What lovely pictures, thank you so much for sharing these with us at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  7. My favorite is the fourth picture because it so reminds me of my daughter and me. I have dark brown hair and she has golden curls. She's usually smiling happily like that baby too. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can just imagine the two of you reading together :))) both my sons had blonde curls for years, however my eldest went brown at 13 whilst my youngest still has his blonde curls at 23. I have brown (going grey) curls .

      Delete
  8. I enjoy sharing my love of reading unto my children. Just this week, I witnessed my kindergartner reading a book to his little brother. My heart swelled with pride. Thanks for sharing on Small Victories Sunday link up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a beautiful sight :))) My eldest son was delayed with his reading and use to share the pictures in his books with his brother and make up his own stories as he couldn't read the words very well!!

      Delete

Post a Comment