Persephone and Poseidon

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

As of late, Emily has grown enamored of Greek Myths. I read to her from the same book I read my first versions of Greek Myths - and she is simply fascinated. Of course, this explains many of the paintings she has seen in Museums in much better detail - The longing of Echo staring at Narcissus, the Hunt of Artemis, the rising of Aphrodite from the sea. She now understands why shoes are Nike's - who was the winged goddess of victory who accompanied Ares.

These stories are opening up the same worlds they opened for me. The larger world of literature and the timelessness of stories. I hope to someday read her the Odyssey - the same way I was read the Odyssey by my step father when I was 12.

So, imagine my joy when I found this near her bed today. Apparently, she is doing some thinking and writing.




Now, for a child like Emily I view this as major work. Writing is difficult for her, but is improving. Reading has been slow and steady. She is smart, but has the challenges of her slight brain injury, her sensory integration and her ADD ( non-medicated)with which to contend.

She may never win a sports event. She may never do math in her head. But, this is my girl. My beautiful, imaginative girl. She listens to me read to her and her imagination blossoms and takes root. In these pages, I see her future and know that I have done good things.

(P.s. I know Persephone is not the goddess of Spring. Em has her confused with Demeter - who is Persephone's mother - who was so happy when Persephone returned from Hades palace that Spring arrived. Sadly, this story has made Em very suspicious of pomegranates...)

8 Baleful Regards:

Anonymous said...

Oh man, that's awesome. We already put Jeff's D&D manuals and my Greek Mythology books on the bookshelf in the nursery too :o)

Anonymous said...

*sniff sniff*

I love the Greek Myths. When I started taking Latin in 6th grade, my favorite thing to do was match up the Roman god with his/her Greek equivalent. Power to The Classics Nerds!

Great job w/ Em. I hope I can impart a similar love and appreciation.

Anonymous said...

I read your blog regularly, but have never commented. I just had to this time. Who cares about winning sporting events or doing math in your head? You've given your daughter an amazing gift...a place where she can dream and grow. I know - my mother did the same for me.

Fraulein N said...

That's awesome! I loved the Greek and Roman myths when I was a kid. It's great that your daughter is so imaginative. A love of reading is one of the best gifts you can give a child.

Mom101 said...

Oh Dawn, I so feel your pride. I was a mytholgy lover too as a kid, and just fascinated by the goddesses (no coincidence my daughter is named for a muse). I can only hope one day to be able to write a similar thing about my own girls.

May her imagination take her everywhere.

Anonymous said...

I love when kids write and illustrate their own stories. That's a great job she did there!

E. said...

Yes, that is great work! Emily is clearly very imaginative. And no wonder, with the parents she has. I'm sure she'll continue to do more and more wonderful things. Math in your head is overrated (says someone who can't go beyond basic addition and subtraction in my head - but hey, I got a Ph.D. in English!)

Jaelithe said...

I love that she can spell Poseidon.

 
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