What? Read the old "stuff" to our grandkids? Are you crazy?

The other day, I innocently suggested that we read the classics to our grandkids and got some shocked looks and numerous pushbacks as if I said all grandparents have 3 heads. The theme of the concern was that we are in an age bursting with digital entertainment and the concern that the "classics" couldn't keep the engagement and interest of our young readers.

Let me give you an alternative perspective.

What's your IQ? Don't you know?

If you were a kid in the early 1970s, you may have been given the "Intelligence Quotient" (IQ) test, which was heralded as the definitive indicator of potential and determined whether you were destined to be a rocket scientist, a corporate mogul, or sweeping the floors at NASA.

I was one of the cusp kids who took the IQ test, and the results were shared with us.

But by the 1990s, something fascinating happened: Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, entered the conversation.

I have a love/hate relationship with my life.

No, there is no need for intervention. This is an epiphany that has been occurring as grandkids have appeared.  

 You have heard me say this before, my grandkids don’t live near me and it’s a perpetual challenge to find ways to interact, build lasting memories, influence their literacy development and show that being old (er) doesn’t mean you don’t have value to add.

I know that sounds like a lot of baggage but trust me, it’s not…really.

You have heard me say this before…my oldest sister is resourceful, curious, adventurous, analytical, and intelligent…and these adjectives just popped into my head. If I took the time to think more about it, I would probably come up with more glowing descriptors.

In our early years, she appeared to be able to learn letters and words and read without any struggles. Since this was the focal point for parents and educators for future success, she was someone I aspired to be.