Tonight, I layed with my son in his bed. It’s been a long time since I’ve done this, but I felt I wanted to read with him. I was focused and I felt it was time I’d spent a little mono a mono with the kid (he’s only 7).
He’s been practicing his reading. He sometimes struggles a bit, but he plods through like any boy learning to read. I let him read to me, then I switched it up and read to him- using more intonation and expression- then gave it back to him to read a little. It’s a simple exercise. He has the recognition of words, but sometimes doesn’t read it through and spits out something which appears to be similar in spelling, but not the right word. Something he recognizes.
As we went back and forth through this excercise, it got me thinkin about literacy and how important it is to normal every day function. I mean, here I’m typing to you and you’re reading it off a computer screen, which has most likely been taken for granted.
Only with in the past year and a half, I found out something REALLY shocking in my family. I call them my aunt and uncle, but they’ve always been my Godparents. They lived in Cambridge, England and my Godmother taught at one of the Universities there.
Since I was little I always called them Aunty Joyce & Uncle Den. My aunt being the teacher and my uncle being - well… my uncle. Since they lived in Cambridge and we only had limited time of contact growing up, I’d only grown close to them as you might a distant friend.
Well, my Aunty Joyce had retired from her university and spent most of her time with my Uncle Den. The most comical memory being his 6′3″ body getting into their car which was a Cooper Mini. It was like fitting a bread factory in a bread box. I’d always heard he was a little essentric and rode his bike everywhere.
Anyways, my Aunty Joyce passed away after getting cancer a year and half ago. It wasn’t until then that we learned my uncle, who was now in his late 80’s was illiterate. It turns out my aunty Joyce did EVERYTHING for him, down to the clothes he’d wear. When she passed, he didn’t quite know how to get on. Fortunately for him (as I believe God does in times of need), a workman who had known and worked with him some 40 years earlier crossed paths and now evidently takes care of him- as much as he can.
Well tonight, my little story time with Shane got me thinking about those people nowadays who have the problem of literacy. It seems like such a simple thing which is taken for granted, but can you imagine the torture of trying to hide the fact one could be illiterate for 70 years?
I spoke with my father who was very close to my Uncle, and even he was fooled. He’d known him eons, but never knew. When I asked him, “how didn’t you know? You must have been able to tell.” He told me when they were at restaurants together, he’d pick up the menu and pretend to read, then consult with my aunty Joyce- “What would you recommend Joyce?” he’d ask… and she would say…. “blah, blah, blah” and place the order. My Aunty Joyce was brilliant, and the fact she was able to hide his illiteracy was even more brilliant. It only made it terribly sad when she was lost. I mean, if you’d been illiterate and survived for over 50 years of marriage following a routine- HOW could you get on?
He’s been struggling for some time now. He’s one of those old fashioned types who’ll take no sympathy from others and will NOT let even my parents (his closest friends) come to see him, because he’s disgusted at the fact he’s lost a tremendous amount of weight, and is “half” of what he used to be. Some people you can’t talk to, and that’s my Uncle Den.. stubborn son of a bitch.
Regardless, when it comes to illiteracy- it exists… it exists NOW. So many take for granted words are simple and very explanitory, AND people over age 8 are expected to read. I must admit, he’s the first case I’ve come across, but he’s family. The fact he’s hidden it so well over 80 years is just mind boggling.
My point is three-fold. One- if you have kids pay attention to the habits they develop when their young- make sure they read, and read well. It’s these habits which will broaden their perspective on the world and indeed, teach them what others may not. Second- make sure you’re involved enough to know if there is a problem. If you catch a problem early, then your ahead of the game. Getting help early prevents future problems. Thirdly, be aware there are people who struggle with something we think is second nature. Be aware others need help to get through an article, a magazine, a book- because WHAT you know, may be a HELL of a lot more than someone else.
I love my son, and I love my Uncle- the fact my son can do something my Uncle can’t… well…. in this case, it’s kind of sad.
Remember to read.