Conversations with Kathleen: On Literacy

It's early afternoon and the girls and I are up in the master bedroom. I'm dusting, putting away clean laundry, tidying up. The girls are watching Veggie Tales "Silly Songs." Watching television isn't my first choice for their entertainment, but it's light years ahead of what they'd choose -- wreaking havoc in my bedroom, or theirs. Madeline has recently discovered how to pry the tops off the Rubbermaid containers that house my fabric stash, and she loves to drag the fabrics and notions out of my closet, through my bedroom, and into the hallway. Kathleen, being stronger, can open actual drawers, which is equally problematic. In the interest of actually making some progress at housekeeping, I let them watch a bit of the video while I work.

Larry the cucumber is currently singing an ode to Barbara Manatee, who is apparently a soap opera star. Larry is absolutely devoted to this manatee -- he's watching her on television and dancing about with a small Barbara Manatee toy as he sings, "Barbara Manatee, you are the one for me. Sent from up above, you are the one I love..." In the midst of his singing, Bob the tomato comes crashing into the room.

"Larry... what are you doing?"

"Um... Just watching some TV," Larry stammers.

"Well, maybe you should just read a book."

I seize on the opportunity to talk about reading instead of watching television. "Kathleen," I begin, "What do you think? Is Bob right? Should Larry read a book instead of watching so much television?"

Kathleen doesn't turn her gaze from the television, but answers, nonetheless, "No. Larry can't read a book!"

"What?" I ask, "Why can't Larry read a book? Books are great!"

"Mama," she says, with a withering look, "Larry is a cucumber. Cucumbers can't read."

Oh. Right.