I've always said that Liam was the sort of kid who will just one day, out of the blue, pick up a book and astonish us by reading it. In the meantime he fosters the illusion of complete disinterest in the art of reading and writing.
He and I have talked about his lack of interest in reading, as well as his assertions that either reading is for adults or something he'll learn to do when he is six or seven, or maybe eight, but definately he is too young now to even bother trying. I suggested that maybe he was afraid that if he learned to read we would no longer read books to him, and spend that kind of quality time with him. He admitted that yes, that was one of his fears (in fact I think the fear of us not being around if he becomes too independant is one of the big ones that drives his behaviours). So I pointed out that if he actively started wanting to learn to read we would HAVE to spend even more time reading with him so that we could help him learn. He's been pondering this idea for a few weeks now.
The other thing about Liam, he wants to do things right, and he want to do it right the FIRST time, and he never wants to be seen in public as less than a model child. Unless, of course, Steve or I are there to take the blame for all his whining, crying and complaining, which he will do, shamelessly, at the top of his lungs, pretty much anywhere.
Given the aforementioned aspects of my first born, I really wasn't all that surprised today when I picked him up from Preschool, and Troni (his teacher) told me that he wrote his name for the first time, yesterday, in his book. She was amazed. Prior to yesterday she had no idea it was something he was even interested in doing.
That's our Liam!
