My son just asked me if he can on his own re-read the first of Lloyd Alexander’s PRYDAIN CHRONICLES and hahaha aaahaha YES MY SON GO

To clarify, we were reading them as our nighttime books for a whole (pausing after CASTLE LLYR to read some non-fantasy) so the fact he wants to start over on his own makes my authorial heart turn to HAPPY BIRDS

I always try to be very very careful not to demand my kid like the things I like — I wanted him to be a reader but I knew that forcing him into it would just be a misery, a chore, or worse, a thing he does to appease ME instead of open his mind and enjoy other worlds and POVs.

Part of my struggle with my own father was eventually I grew to like things — books, computers, art — that were different from his interests. He didn’t understand it, didn’t want to understand it, and I think it actually hurt his feelings — resentment grew out of that, I suspect.

So for me it’s like leaving out breadcrumbs — things I like or that I think he might like, they’re just there, and he can drift toward them or away from them. But it’s nice when we end up sharing love of one thing or another. Not necessary, but lovely just the same.