Anne Frank Date

Dawson and I at the Pioneer Theater

So I made a deal with my voracious 2nd grade reader. If he read the Diary of Anne Frank with me, I would take him on a date to see the play. I was a little nervous at first, due to the nature of the book and his age, but he is mature beyond his years, and loves to read about real life events.

We read together, every chance we got, and had some really great discussions. We talked about everything from how to treat people, respecting cultural and religious differences, how our attitude can influence our everyday life, and how to learn from the past. It was incredible, how much he processed and would be an active participant in our discussions, with his own thoughts and ideas.

We started our date off at his favorite place in the world, Red Lobster, where he moaned and groaned with every bite of salmon. He loves fish more than pretty much anything in the world, and had all the tables around us laughing. Besides reading way way above his level, he also eats that way too, and finished everything on his plate and half of mine too!

We got to the theater a little early and Dawson became engrossed with the piano player in the lobby. We stood on the balcony above him, and just watched his fingers fly over the keys. It was beautiful and great for Daws to see what could be, if he practices. The play was just under three hours, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Dawson was so tired when we got in the car, but every so often when he would startle awake, he would say, "thanks so much, mom."

He's very welcome.

We did have one slight problem, the next Friday. His Power Hour teacher had challenged the class to read 30 chapter books in March, and then they would get a party. Well, because Daws and I were reading Anne Frank, he missed the 30 books by a couple, and had to spend the party in a separate room, writing a paper on how he could become a better reader.

Are you freaking kidding me? The other kids are reading these thin little beginner chapter books and he is reading literature, and being punished.

Lovely.