to wonder about the logic behind this rude comment?

[EnchanciaAnthem]

I took DD (6) to our local book shop this morning for a treat after a trip to the dentist. She chose a Charlie & Lola book, she already has lots of them and just adores them.

On our way out, we saw one of DD's classmates with her mum. Friend asked DD what she had bought, and they were chatting together. Friend's mum said to me -

'Charlie and Lola? Mine had grown out of that by about 3! Do you think it's because of her special needs?'



Firstly, DD's special needs are to do with a health condition - she doesn't have a learning disability.

Next - DD is actually a brilliant writer. Purely for context, according to her teacher she is reading at a much higher level than expected and we have started chapter books but she does still love her picture books.

But my biggest issue with what she says is - how can you grow out of a book before you can actually read it? It is only really in the past year - year in a half that DD will read them fluently alone and understand it all properly.

Am I missing something??

[CatMilkMan]

Ignorance and stupidity on the other mothers part?

[Yarp]

Oh Good Lord.

That person is a twat, and a rude one. It's a shame you even need to feel you have to explain your DD to us because of her crass comment

[weaselwords]

Bit of competitive mothering there, to give the impression that her kid is reading War and Peace and just to stress that your child isn't quite perfect, like hers. Very catty. I wouldn't bother with the mum again.

[Yarp]

BTW

We read picture books to year 5s because of the richness of the text and imagery. That woman has her own competitiveness issues.

[glenthebattleostrich]

As DD moves to independent reading we have rediscovered our love of picture book. The other mother is an idiot.

[cosmicglittergirl]

She doesn't know what she's on about; children often like to read books to themself that were read to them when they were younger. It was a thoughtless thing to say.

[weaselwords]

*edited to add your child is perfect, just she wants you to believe that she isn't in comparison to hers.

[kissmethere]

she's a cow, a bitchy, pointless cow.
What a thing to say. Kids can read whatever they like, as long as appropriate, but she's weighing up your dd on her choice of book.

[cuntycowfacemonkey]

She's a knob! If you look at the books in the classrooms at school they are still very much at picture book stage. DS is 7 and still enjoys The gruffalo and the like.

I'm 38 and once in a while I still read my old malory towers and famous 5 books! As long as you dd loves the book who cares

[Dynomite]

I think she probably read those books to her kid and her DD now doesn't like them anymore because she (the DD) probably thinks it's for babies now. Just like there comes a point where you outgrow Frozen or whatever kids love to watch at various ages.
That being said, she's an ignorant knob and her comment was just stupid, especially the bit about DD's SN.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

cunty I thought I was the only person in my 30's regularly rereading Malory Towers .
She was trying to engage in a bit of competitive parenting. Ignore.

[wigglesrock]

Oh she's a dick, plain and simple. I wouldn't give her inane little comment another thought - some people are very competitive in the most peculiar ways. Fwiw my 7 year old goes back to old favourites all the time when she's reading. She's full of shite - don't let her annoy you.

[AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore]

Just needs standard MN response "Did you mean to be that rude?"

Then disengage and ignore. I'm an adult and I love it when ds2 chooses Charlie and Lola books because they make me laugh.

[LooseSeal]

My DD is 7, she happily reads chapter books to herself, and still enjoys picture books. The last time she was let loose in a bookshop and told she could pick something she chose "The Day the Crayons Quit", which is a picture book (and utterly wonderful too).

This woman was just being a performance parenting knob.

[mammuzzamia]

Not a pleasant, and rude thing to say, even, and especially if she really thought she had special needs.

Competitive parenting is all it is.

[MamaLazarou]

The woman is a total bellend. Take no notice.

[DarkEvilMoon]

how can you grow out of a book before you can actually read it?
Simple because even if you are being read the book you are no longer interested in the content. Ds had grown out of Thomas the Tank engine before he was 3 1/2, he couldn't read the books and we had different levels of books. He was just no longer interested.

The SN bit was just plain rude though.

[Preminstreltension]

Actually you've just given me an idea to go to the library and get some Charlie and Lola for my nearly 6 year old. He would love that. Silly moo she was.

[LilyMayViolet]

She is rude and ignorant. What a stupid thing to say. Ignore her.

[TheRealAmyLee]

Yadnbu
Taste in books totally depends on the child. DD 8 will still read charlie and lola but DS 5 doesn't like it anymore and is all about Mr Men. They all go through phases. I don't believe in "too babyish" let kids read whatever they want to read. I reakon older kids reading these kind of books is just the same as adults reading trashy novels. Sometimes you just want something entertaining and super easy to read. Also charlie & lola is awesome.

The sn comment is totally out of line.

[Pancakeflipper]

Ignore - her comments say more about her than your daughter.


I think there's something very comforting about returning to familiar authors and books.

I re-read a Judy Blume book the other night and it was a lovely place to be.

[Pumpkinpositive]

OP should have said "Charlie and Lola is for me. DD is speed reading her way through Don Quixote (in Spanish)."

[Theycallmemellowjello]

Horrible woman! By not sure why you are assuming all 3 year olds can't read? Mine reads.

[LastOneDancing]

How wonderful that your DD loves books and words and writing you should be very proud.

Other mum - rude. Meh.