It’s just another Monday evening. When the clock strikes eight, my partner and I call our kids upstairs for their bedtime routine. Most nights, they comply without much fuss; other times, they stomp up the stairs like a herd of disgruntled alpacas. After a lengthy period of antics that often results in blobs of toothpaste on the carpet, they eventually settle into their rooms, waiting for us. The days of diapers, bottles, and sweet sleepy smiles are long gone, replaced by eye rolls, attitudes, and the occasional “OK, Boomer.” Yet, one cherished tradition remains: reading aloud together.
When I tell people that my partner and I read aloud to our teenagers, they often respond with surprise, saying, “We don’t have time for that.” I completely understand! As our kids enter their teenage years, life moves at lightning speed, and finding time becomes a challenge. Our calendars are packed with activities—homework, band practice, piano lessons, sports, and more. So how do we keep our reading ritual alive? As someone who tends to go all-in, I’ve learned to adapt to our unpredictable schedules. Our goal is to read together three nights a week; if we achieve that, we consider it a win.
Interestingly, my teens have skipped right over young adult literature and dove into adult fiction. This shift comes with its own set of challenges, but it also opens the door to meaningful conversations. We’ve tackled serious topics like poverty, racism, and bullying, creating a safe space for dialogue about the world’s pressing issues. This unique opportunity to engage with my teens is invaluable.
What keeps my partner engaged in this routine, despite the demands of his long workdays? He cherishes the bonding time it brings, allowing him to connect individually with each child. Plus, he genuinely enjoys reading aloud. As the kids have developed their own tastes, he’s embraced a more collaborative approach to choosing books. For instance, when our daughter expressed an interest in horror, he suggested Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which they read together. They both loved the depth of this classic. Similarly, he recommended Tolkien’s The Hobbit to our eldest son, who was excited to explore it after seeing the film adaptation.
Let me share a fun fact: my partner has a knack for voice acting, which he continues to use even as the kids have outgrown the giggles that once came with it. His dramatic interpretations make reading enjoyable and turn the stories into an experience. While I focus more on vocabulary and comprehension during our reading sessions, my soothing tone has garnered praise from my youngest son.
We’ve been reading together for years, and I’ve developed a keen sense of my teens’ vocabularies. When we come across unfamiliar words, I like to ask if they can infer their meanings from context. Just last week, my youngest casually used the word “plethora” in conversation, which made me proud.
Reading aloud prompts important discussions, encouraging my children to dig deeper into the material. For example, while reading Golding’s Lord of the Flies, my son was captivated by the themes of human savagery and fear, leading to insightful conversations about those concepts. We’ve explored society and class in The Outsiders, community in The Graveyard Book, and authority in Ender’s Game.
Recently, we packed away some of our favorite books, including board books that hold sentimental value. As I taped up the last box, I couldn’t help but feel a swell of emotion thinking about how quickly time passes. Soon, my eldest will leave for college, and I’ll never get those younger years back. So, I choose to embrace every moment of these teenage years, reading with them as a way to express our love.
I hope they look back fondly on our evenings filled with stories, laughter, and love, reminding them that we were always #readaloudstrong.
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In summary, reading aloud to my teens has not only enriched our relationship but has also fostered meaningful discussions about real-world issues, allowing us to bond in a unique way. We cherish these moments, knowing they are fleeting.