Last week I started Despicable Me in my English and Video class (it is our first attempt at Movie-oake, which is actually hysterical). I just finished the worksheet for the second part of the movie and there is one section where the girls want the main character to read them a bedtime story.
I thought back to my host family experience here in Kazakhstan and can’t remember a single family ever reading bedtime stories to their kids before bed. One of my questions on the worksheet is “What was your favorite bedtime story as a kid?” I am excited/nervous to talk about this with them. I see it going two ways:
1. “What’s a bedtime story?” – then me explaining that some families in America read stories to their children before bed to calm or quiet children before putting them to bed. It is a routine that happens every night. Then, hopefully asking if this is something they think is important… reading to children when they are little… etc.
OR…
2. “My favorite was…. blah, blah, blah” – I’m kinda hoping for the first scenario, but then… how sad would that be to go to bed without a bedtime story?
I remember when I was little getting books from my grandparents EVERY YEAR. I didn’t EVER appreciate them until I was older (sad how appreciation multiplies throughout life). I also remember babysitting A LOT when I was little and ALWAYS reading kids bedtime stories. I remember kids following along with the words… or mouthing the words as you read to them… or just sitting in your lap enjoying the quiet and peacefulness of it all…
It’s kinda the same as a bedtime song… except, you know, reading. I use to LOVE LOVE LOVE when my Mom would sing songs or put on the nursery rhymes song-tape thingy. I still think about the “Tomorrow We’ll Go to the Fair” song… A LOT. It’s my “go-to” sing a kid to sleep song.
Anyway, showing this cutesy little movie just reminded me about bedtime stories and how important they are to read to little ones. Can’t wait. 
