Wednesday, May 20, 2009

How to be a rock star mom: Step-by-step instructions

Step One:
Have a good friend plugged in enough to the local literary scene that she alerts you to a book signing by your son's favorite author, Rick Riordan, creator of the brilliant Percy Jackson series.

Be sure to tell your oldest son about this as though it were your idea.

Step Two:
Take your oldest son and two of his friends to the book signing. Arrive two hours early in anticipation of the large crowds. Bring Subway sandwiches and a deck of cards to keep them busy.


Bask in the glow of their praise for your genius as you watch the line stretch out behind you for miles.

Step Three:
While waiting for the signing to start, steal your son's copy of the newest Percy Jackson saga, and ignore Radio Disney blasting from the speakers above your head. Pay no attention whatsoever to the ongoing pictionary game while reading said book. Look up momentarily to discover your son diving head first into the game and take a photograph of his thoughtful and artistic rendition of Medusa.

Smile, wave, and pretend you've been paying attention the whole time.

Step Four:
Laugh and shake your head when the crowd erupts in squeals and screams as Mr. Riordan enters the room. Be grateful your own son is above such hysterics.

Look over to find him hopelessly mooning over Mr. Riordan and basking in the sheer bliss of the moment.

Step Five:
Have your camera ready for the very moment when his peaceful bliss turns into utter delight as he realizes JUST. WHERE. HE. IS. RIGHT. NOW.

Feel very satisfied for making him so happy.


Step Six:
Text friends while waiting in a seemingly endless line for Mr. Riordan's signature.


Step Seven:
Be glad there is a former middle school teacher out there who decided to tell a bedtime story to his son. These actions, several years later, will cause your son to proclaim this day as, "THE BEST DAY OF HIS WHOLE LIFE."

Step Eight:
Drive home with a profound sense of satisfaction for, today, indeed, you were a great mom.
________________

If any of you (or your children) have not read these books, I highly recommend picking up a copy of the first book in the series, "The Lightning Thief." We have all enjoyed them at our house, and look forward anxiously for the movie coming out next February. They are a fabulous way to get your kids excited about reading. My oldest has become a fanatic on Greek mythology and these books have led him to study this subject in depth. I might even venture out on a limb to say that I liked them better than the Harry Potters.

Don't hate me. Read them and judge for yourself.

31 comments:

Annie said...

Wow, you really are a rock star mom! That would be a big time event around here too. {Love that thrilled look on McKay's face...what an expression of sheer delight}

♥Shally said...

LOVE his face!

And I love that he loves books enough to get excited like that!!

Jenny said...

So cool! We're working our way through Harry Potter right now but at the rate my son is reading, we'll be ready for a new series soon. Thanks for the info. I can't wait to learn more about this author and the series.

Anna said...

Love the look on his face! Way to go Mom. Can you be my mom too?

Stuart♥Maren said...

OK - that is now TWICE that you have made their day! You really do ROCK!

mae said...

OK. You really are a rock star mom. Kudos to you.

Holly said...

Rock on sista! You are ultra cool--especially to McKay and his buddies. Love that shot when he realized in the moment he was actually seeing RR.

I have not read his childrens' series, but I think I'll try them out. I read one of his books for adults and have another one or two on my shelves. I like that his books have a Texas flair, not that I'm biased or anything. :)

melissa walker said...

Are they good for an 8 year old boy? And a 6 year old girl?

Unknown said...

You really are a ROCK STAR mom! I've never heard of those books...would it be bad for me to buy them for myself to read since my kids are too little? I love Harry Potter...so why not?

Laurie said...

Wow! That sure beats hearing "OH BARNACLES! This is the worst day ever!!"

Windy said...

Oh - I am so jealous! My daughter was just reading about the St. Louis event on Rick Riordan's blog. I would have loved to take her, and then she would have thought that I was a rock star mom!

Lauren in GA said...

Oh, Stie. You ARE a serious rock star Mom! All of it...bringing Subway, getting there early, all of it.

I mean...I have mastered the whole, "smile, wave, and pretend you've been paying attention the whole time." but I'm no rock star.

So fabulous..and thanks for the recommendation on the books.

Liz said...

I can't thank you enough for introducing us to these books. Jack devoured the first four and we had to go out the day the fifth one was released to purchase it. And I wouldn't have it any other way. (Besides, maybe, to have Mr. Riordan pay a visit to our local bookstore so that I can be a Rock Star like you.)

Creed, Stella, Ed and I are on the third. Ed says Percy Jackson is like Harry Potter's cooler older brother.

Kimberly said...

I absolutely LOVE that final picture of McKay. The look on his face is priceless...you are totally a Rock Star Mom!!

Lori said...

I think you hit demi-god status with that day you gave your son. We love the books.

Anonymous said...

I'm loving that we blogged about the same book series today. I read them and loved them too.

Travelin'Oma said...

Mack looks like a rock star, too. What cool hair!

Kristin said...

Love the books too, waiting for my boys to love them as well. What a cool mama you are.

Emily said...

Don't kid yourself, you are an amazing mom EVERY day--I feel I can slack a bit just to average things out among children everywhere.
And I can't wait to introduce my boys to Percy Jackson. J-j-j-u-u-u-s-s-s-t-t-t a fff-e----w more y-y-y-ea-rrs. (The sounding out stage is a bit tedious but coming along.)

Jill said...

We are heading to the library today. Thanks Rock Star Mom!

Terra said...

WE LOVE LOVE These books and you are a GREAT MOM!

Christy said...

Thanks for the tip! Perfect for the summer reading frenzy. How awesome that you memorialized this event on your blog with your great pictures. Aren't blogs great?

Kayla said...

haha, that is hilarious! YOU are hilarious! How fun for your kids! and I love his face where he is staring at the author with love in his eyes. haha!

Amanda D said...

That is very cool. You are definitely a rock star. What age range for the books?

Susy said...

you inspire me!

Ilene said...

Way to go to document your awsomeness.

I love good books that can get boys excited to read. I will need to try out this series.

Becky said...

Landon LOVES these books, ...I should really try to understand them more. He is such a book lover that I hardly even pay attention to what he's reading.

Good job on the book signing. You know how to do it right. The look on his face is awesome- I rarely catch such a moment, but how cool when it happens!

Diane said...

I'm thinking I want to read them now. You've made them sound pretty good!!! You really captured the moment with those pictures....priceless!!

Joy & Casey said...

That is so cool!!! I love the look on his face. My kids love to read-Alyssa LOVES The Lightning Thief-but unfortunately they only get this excited about people like David Archuleta-sad. I don't think they know who the authors are of the books they read. You are such an AWESOME mom!!!!

Anonymous said...

You rock! I'll have to check them out.

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

You totally rock! These look great. I need to check them out for my boys.