It is always amazing to watch children develop from lumps of soft flesh into walking, talking beings who have opinions and reasoning abilities. The progression of development has never failed to fascinate me with any of my three children. Nevertheless, I do have my favorite milestones. Funny enough the mobility ones have never been among my top picks. Sure, it's great to see them run and frolic but for me that has always meant that I must also move quickly to keep pace with them and assure their safety. I have to say that my favorite developmental stage is reading. For my older two kids it was better than any holiday or gift to see them forming out the words with their small mouths and the looks of delight as they realized those words formed a story.

Recently my ten year-old daughter Cassidy has truly embraced reading. At her new, public middle school reading is deeply ingrained in the curriculum; the children set monthly goals as to how many books they intend to read and what level of books they can read. She keeps a daily log of the pages and minutes/hours she reads and then turns it in to her teacher at the end of every week. Cass has taken to these expectations like a champ. She eagerly scours the book orders the teachers send home and demands to go to the library several times a week. She trades books with her friends and often asks me what books I read when I was her age. Discussing books with her is so much fun, much better than hearing about the latest Hannah Montana plot.

Reading has been one of the true joys of my life. In good and bad times the pages of a book have sustained me and given me inspiration to tackle whatever challenge is in front of me. To see this same sort of joy in my daughter is absolutely wonderful. I hope it is a gift she carries with her throughout her life.