Seeking the formula for parenting

Blogger Content: September 2006 - April 2010

Flexible Links

My Blogging Inspiration
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

Flexible Affiliations


Parent Bloggers Network
- Crazy/Hip Blog-Mamas+
(Random Site)
A Member of Bust's Girl Wide Web
Parenting Blogs - Blog Top Sites
blog search directory
Search For Blogs, Submit Blogs, The Ultimate Blog Directory

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Harry Potter and the Blurry Eyed Parents (Spoiler-Free Post)

Don't worry. There are no spoilers in this post.

When Harry Potter first came out, I had no interest in it. I knew that a lot of people liked it, but I didn't see why it would be something that I would want to read. "It's a kid's book," is what I said. However, when I was doing my post-BA program, it seemed like everyone I knew was eagerly anticipating the 5th book. From the students, to my advisors, to one of the assistant deans not to mention several of my professors, it was clearly a hit with people that I knew and respected. One day I was at Spag's (if you're from MA you've probably heard of it), and they were selling paperback copies of the first three books for just a few dollars each. I went ahead and bought them. The next day I returned to get the 4th book, which was in hardcover and not nearly as inexpensive (but still well worth it). The Big Giraffe eagerly anticipated the chance to read the 4th book. As a lifelong sci fi/fantasy reader, who had initially bypassed the series for the same reason that I did, he said, "JK Rowlings makes people realize how cool fantasy really is".

When the 5th book came out, we were in Chicago. We saw the stacks of books in the airport but resisted the urge to buy a copy since we knew Amazon.com had already dropped one off so that it was waiting at home for us. We ordered the 6th book from Amazon.com as well, but when it came out, BG actually went to a local store and bought a second copy at midnight so that we could each read it together. Yes, that may sound weird but we had some great discussions over it. Compared to the cost of a date night between restaurant, movie, and a babysitter (this was before I was in the co-op), the cost of two books was peanuts and it allowed us to discuss something other than our child. Lots of conversation, particularly conversation that is not about your kids, is just what marriage counselors recommend.

This past Friday, he went out and got a copy of Deathly Hollows. He finished reading it that night (or really I should say morning before the boys finished breakfast) and then I read it yesterday evening (into the wee hours.) We had some fantastic conversations about the book this morning as we drive to a cousin's birthday party. I won't say much more about the book since I don't want to spoil it. I will say I enjoyed it a lot. I'm looking forward to discussing it with friends. As sad as I am that the series is over, I think she ended it well.

One other note, it never fails to amaze me what my older son chooses to hear me say and remember. "Get your feet off of your brother"? That he never remembers. "Pick up your toys," gets a look of surprise every time as if it is the first time he's heard it. Yet, something that I tell him one time about 5 months ago he remembers. And what would that be? "Mommy, when I'm 18 years old I'm going to wear earrings."

A. Elliot's Lesson Learned: Great literature and off-hand comments have one-thing in common: they will be remembered forever.

Labels: ,

posted by Alex Elliot @ 8:54 PM   6 comments
6 Comments:

  • At 7/22/2007 9:51 PM, Blogger super des said…

    I didn't read the first ones right away either. But you know what, they are fun. And of course I'm all for a good book that gets kids (and adults) to read!

    I'd better hurry up & read it if I'm to discuss it with y'all at BlogHer!

     

  • At 7/23/2007 3:44 AM, Blogger Lady M said…

    I agree with you - Sad that it's over, but she ended it well.

    My husband needs to finish reading so that we can talk!

     

  • At 7/23/2007 8:26 AM, Blogger CableGirl said…

    I was the same as you. I resisted until after the 4th book came out when I bought the first three in paperback and finished them in the course of two days.

    I just finished last night and can't wait until it's safe to discuss them without ruining the ending for other readers. :)

     

  • At 7/23/2007 11:28 AM, Anonymous Amy said…

    I was teaching school when a fellow teacher recommended the first two Harry Potters, which was 1999. I was hooked for good.

    And oh my, I neglected my family and my own personal hygiene to finish this last one. And it was worth every stinky second.

     

  • At 7/24/2007 12:52 AM, Blogger Suzanne said…

    Finished it Sunday night/Monday morning. I can't wait to discuss it with you! (I think I started reading the books right before the 3rd one came out.)

    Once BlogHer is back up and running, I am going to post something about the books and how they make an awesome feminist contribution to kid's lit.

     

  • At 7/25/2007 4:38 PM, Blogger Nancy said…

    I, too, was a late bloomer when it came to Harry Potter. I haven't had the time to plow through it like the rest of you, but I'm working on it and so far I'm loving it. Filled with action this one. My husband has avoided reading any of the books, but has seen the movies with me. I have resorted to having discussions with my sister and brother-in-law.

    Wish I was going to BlogHer to chat about Harry with the rest of you!

     
Post a Comment
Home
 

My Profile

Name:Alex Elliot
Home:MA, United States
About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
See my complete profile

Flexible Media Appearances

The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, Fox TV, August 3, 2007

Flexible Feeds

More Flexible Parenting

Grasshopper New Media Parents
Just Cause
Birth Days

Flexible Categories

Previous Posts

Archives

For those of us who didn't get an instruction manual with our babies and for whom parenting hasn't always gone as planned. On a more serious note this blog is about supporting a woman's ability to make her own choices about parenting including the choice, for whatever reason, to bottle feed her babies formula.

Powered by Blogger
© Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting


Creative Commons License
Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting by Alex Elliot is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Template Design based on one produced by isnaini dot com