In an earlier time of my life, when I was teaching Kindergarten, one of my favorite times in the classroom was storytime. It was a rare Kindergartener who could resist the draw of a well-chosen picture book, but still, there were those who could be distracted. However, when I knew and liked a story well enough to tell it, no book involved, eye-to-eye, no interruptions for page turns, no teaching prompts, the kids were had. Their eyes were wide, bodies still (well, as much as a K. kids can be), and they were lost in the telling. It was then that I started to feel the draw to become a storyteller.
The month that I retired, I talked with Ellen and learned about the opportunity to take some free storytelling classes in preparation for telling stories to children at Riley Hospital. What a gift that has been to me. A chance to share stories that I love with sick kids who I hope will be caught up in them as well. And a real bonus in telling with another storyteller, learning and appreciating new styles and fresh stories, and sharing sources and just tidbits of our lives. We select one Wed evening a month, come and pick up our list of kids, and visit their rooms to give our invitations. “Hi! Is this _(name)_? We’re storytellers and we’d love to share a story with you.”
All this has been a delight, but the experience of storytelling in a hospital room has been a revelation to me. I expected sick children, and they are, and some turn-downs, and there are plenty of those, too. But I have discovered a few important things: that a story can be appreciated even when there is little physical response, that a child who feels too poorly to respond may still remember the story and retell it to family and enjoy it when s/he is feeling better, that the brothers and sisters and parents and Grandpas and Grandmas may need that story and that distraction as much as the child who is the patient, that we can all get through a story despite nurses checking vital signs and aides bringing in food and visitors popping in. (We’re done for, however, if the Magic Castle shows up. There’s no competing with that magic – and we’re happy for that!)
What do we “get” from our storytelling at Riley? Well, we get to share a good story and enjoy the telling of it. We get to bring some smiles, some heartfelt thank you’ s from family. We have a wonderful circle of storytelling friends. We have the hope always that we have eased for a few minutes a painful time for a child. And occasionally we have the heady thrill of hearing “Can you tell me another one”.
Storyteller Sue Lynch
sosterhaus4433@sbcglobal.net