The Secret Garden

So tonight I started reading, The Secret Garden to the children. I'd forgotten how the book begins and was berated with question after question.  

Why didn't Mary's mother love her? Why do they keep saying that Mary was ugly? What does cross mean? What does contrary mean? Was Mary ugly because she was cross and contrary? Why were they in India? Why does Mary's mother have so many nicknames? Why would Mary drink wine off the table? Doesn't she know she can't drink alcohol? How could they just forget about her and leave her home alone?

And of course all of this led to a huge explanation of the cholera epidemic. Which led to more questions, because Reese threw up last night, and now she thinks it's cholera from eating the snow. 

I'm ruining my children. 

The last question came from Quincy when we were on page 16, 

"Mom, how come all the books and movies about orphans or kids with dead mothers?" 

I don't know the answer to that one but it seems to be true. Harry Potter, Annie, Pippy Longstocking, Snow Buddies, Cabbage Patch Christmas, peter and the Starcatchers, Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events...even Buddy in Elf was an orphan.

Instead of drifting off to sleep thinking about the poor orphans this time, they'll fall asleep to sweet dreams of cholera. Lovely.

1 hour of reading and only 16 pages covered. 

The Secret Garden is going to last us a while, I think.