Summer reading

I enrolled the kids in a summer reading program at a local library last month (seriously, is anyone else in total shock that it's already July 1st?). C finally decided in the last 2 weeks of school that he liked reading, so I was hoping that the reading program would motivate him to keep it up during the summer months. I was also hoping it would provide something else for him to do other than following me around the house and saying, "What should I do now?" like he did all last summer.

The name of the program is Going Places with Great Books and the tracking sheet they gave to us is filled with tiny suitcases. Every time C spends 30 minutes reading a book, he gets to color in 1 suitcase. In total, the paper has 20 suitcases for him to color, which of course means that he needs to read for 10 hours to complete the sheet. Once we found the right books, including the Captain Underpants and Mighty Robot series, he was off and running.

By yesterday morning, he had completed his 1st sheet and I told him we'd run to the library to turn it in & pick up a second tracking sheet. I may have also said something like, "I wonder what sort of prize you'll get for completing your first 20 suitcases?"

As soon as the word prize was out of my mouth, three things immediately happened:
1. Both of my children strained forward in their booster seats with excitement.
2. Both of them began peppering me with questions about the type of prizes they'd be getting.
3. I realized that I probably should have read the brochure about the reading program a little more closely, because I suddenly wasn't really sure if there would be any prizes waiting for us once we got to the library.

Of course in hindsight perhaps I should have thought a little more carefully about the prize situation before I let those fateful words pass my lips, but it was too late now.

I immediately started back peddling a bit as I imagined the possible scenarios that would occur if we got the library and there were in fact no prizes for completing the first summer reading list. None of those scenarios seemed to end happily.

"Well," I said, "maybe they won't actually have prizes for you to take home today. Maybe there will be some kind of drawing that we can enter. Maybe they'll pull a name out of a bucket later and they'll announce the prize then."

As I looked in the mirror to gauge their reaction to my revision of the earlier prize announcement, I was met with somewhat hostile and disbelieving eyes.

"No Mama," said C, "I'm sure they'll be handing out prizes."

Hmm... I had a sinking feeling that he was going to be disappointed.

Well, we got to library and sure enough, there were no actual prizes to be had. A very young and perky librarian congratulated them on their reading achievement and then explained to the kids that they could write their names on a piece of paper and drop it into one of 5 buckets for a chance to win one of 5 different prizes. She also handed the kids the forms containing their next 20 suitcases and said something like, "Happy reading!"

We went over to the prize buckets so the kids could choose which drawing to enter. C went for the family pass to our local Bounce U and K dropped her name into the bucket labeled "leisure package" that included a lawn chair, bubbles, and a reusable plastic drink bottle.

While thankfully, there were no tears, the mood was decidedly a bit somber as we left the librarian's table. As we walked away, I noticed that there were some coupons attached to the new reading forms. "Oh look guys!" I said enthusiastically, "There is a prize after all! Here are some coupons for us to use. Look, a coupon for a free ice cream cone & check this one out...a coupon for a free meal at Beef O'Brady's!"

C turned to me with a very serious look on his face and said, "You know Mom, those prizes are really more for you than for us. All it means is that you have to pay less money the next time we go out."

When did he get so smart anyway? Since I felt a bit guilty about uttering the word prize prematurely (clearly I am slipping a bit this summer) I decided to throw them a bone.

"Who wants to go over to the Wii game section and pick out a new game to rent? It will be your prize for completing your first reading sheet!"

Suddenly, the mood of my offspring did a 180. "We do, we do!"

And so, another day of summer vacation passed peacefully.