To find reading to my DD such a massive chore?

[VioletBam]

I always read of people on here who say "Oh I love reading to my son!" or they're sad because their child doesn't want them to any more.

My DD2 is 8 and I've always read her a story at bedtime...I did the same for her sister who at 11 is no longer interested in that.

DD2 loves her stories and I NEVER show that I find it hard work...I'm actually pretty good at it too...I do voices and she loves it.

HOWEVER

She still interrupts all the frigging time.

She likes a book with illustrations and she CONSTANTLY....like every page...points out shit.

Me; So then the little girl went down the lane...

DD: Oh look! There's a bird falling out of it's nest!

Me: And down the lane she met an old man...

DD: Look at his hat!

Me: Yes. She said to the old man "Have you seen my dog?"

DD: He looks a bit like Uncle Charles....



I've said to her "Can you let me finish a page and then point things out or say things?

And she says yes.

But can't.

She's one of those kids who never shuts up. I am getting so tense with it all!

[SabineUndine]

YABU and I'm sure you know that. However as your daughter's 8, maybe you could encourage her to read more for herself?

[Oysterbabe]

Children ask questions and are curious about everything, that's one of the wonderful things about them.
Yab a misery guts.

[VioletBam]

Sabine she does! But she likes me to read to her too. It's only one story...from what I've seen on here, that's normal at 8.

Oyster Am I though? I find it hard to read a story well if I'm constantly interrupted!

I can't keep coming in an out of it...it's just annoying!

[RiverTam]

Haha, that would drive me nuts! Totally ruins the flow of the words and story. Bugger all you can do about it, of course, it's marvellous she's so involved and inquisitive . Testament to your reading skills etc etc.

[IAmAPaleontologist]

Oh god dd is like that, drives me nuts. I share your pain.

[Backingvocals]

DS is like this. Actually worse in that he leaps up every sentence (literally) to act it out . I try to remember that this is great and that he is fully engaged with the story and brimming over with the excitement of discovering literature. However, it is a pain in the arse

[StormyBlue]

Of course she isn't unreasonable for feeling a certain way, she has no control over it and she said she doesn't let it show. It's great that you don't let it stop you, OP.

[ginorwine]

Op
I was so tired by bedtime I felll asleep instead - so at least you are trying !
I regret it tho as they are less keen at reading than I Wd like ( I had an u diagnosed illness tho )

[Yokohamajojo]

Yes I relate! my DS2 who is 7 does this all the time, very frustrating!

[Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies]

OP, I read to my three eldest dc. I subcontracted the chore wonderful book sharing activity when I got to the fourth child. The older three used to love it. I chose to see it as encouraging sibling bonding and nothing to do with parental idleness. You are being absolutely reasonable.

[Ivegotyourgoat]

Yanbu at all.

Ds is 8 and I still read to him. He enjoys the time together.

He also drives me mad with the constant interrupting.

[VoldysGoneMouldy]

Sorry OP but am laughing out loud. DS often does the same thing, though I have noticed it's only with the books that aren't as engaging - ie, he'll do it with Mr Men, but not with Harry Potter. Is it possible a change of books might help?

You have my sympathy.

I love it, but this bit drives me bonkers when it happens.

[Thumbcat]

My 8yo DS does the same. I tell him at the next interruption I'll stop reading and after doing it a couple of times he knows I mean it.

[OneEpisode]

Maybe try swapping the activity for another one. Mum & daughter dog walking? Or she talks to you about her day, reads the book?
My dc1 doesn't like me reading any more, but I have to read my book lying on edge of dc1's bed for the same length of time that I read yo dc2...

[Toddzoid]

Ha Yanbu. My DS and DD2 are no problem at all, they get super engrossed in the story and just sit and listen nicely. DD1 (forever one on her own...) is just like your DD and interrupts constantly with questions about the characters on the page and why that one looks angry or she'll spell out certain words and insist I stop reading till she's finished. If I were just reading to the other two it would be done in less than 5 mins but with her additional tangents it's dragged out for twice that !

[Jimjamjoos]

I feel the same but never show it either. It's not so bad once I get going. For me it's the fact that it's the end of the shift and I'm knackered and I haven't really got much left to give. I don't show my impatienceoften but I don't like feeling that way. I've a degree in English Literature; reading with my kids was supposed to be a huge deal!! Oh the realities!

[Rebecca2014]

Lol, same here. Im just thinking "shut up! Do you want me read the book or not?" I know I'm bu.

[EquinoxBloom]

Its not that you hate reading, is that your DD is a crap listener :)

Sorry but I get tough. It's 8pm, it's bedtime and mummy is too tired for this shit: "Am I going to read it or are you going to frigging keep interrupting me? Because if you aren't going to let me read then it's lights out time"

Yeah, so sue me....

[dietcokeandwine]

YANBU.

Love reading to my DC (mine are 11, 6 and 3) but there is something about constant interruptions during bedtime stories that is slightly soul destroying.

My 6yo is lovely but the most dreadful procrastinating chatterbox and if he can interrupt / point things out / spout random shite, he will.

I know they say to encourage discussion around stories etc whilst they're learning to read, but I think a lot of DC use interruptions quite simply as a way of delaying bedtime! Also it must be hard for them to actually follow the story if they're constantly wittering.

With ds2 I tolerate interruptions the first couple of times, tell him patiently that we won't have time to finish the story if he keeps interrupting the third time, and anything after that, I snap: he can shut up and listen or I'm not reading any more.

I would be a bit more honest with her if I were you, OP. There's no reason why she shouldn't be told that her constant interruptions spoil your enjoyment of reading together and make it hard work, and she's unlikely to stop if you keep gritting your teeth and pretending everything is fine when you're hugely frustrated. If she can't stop interrupting, you stop reading. End of.

(Sorry, I am a bit of a short fused cow at bedtime. Can you tell? )

[Witchend]

I choose books I like. It helps.

[SuckingEggs]

I think at school they are encouraged to comment and comprehend, and not just trot the words out...

[plantsitter]

Is it because you just want her to go to sleep? If so can you read with her earlier so you're not so desperate for it to be over??

YABU - of course you want to encourage her interest and truthfully she probably just enjoys the time snuggled up with you. I think you know this.

Personally I love reading to my kids but there are other things you're supposed to like but don't, like listening to primary school kids sing-shout song after tuneless song, so I'm not judging you

[Backingvocals]

Actually yes it's true that DD one never did this and she's a massive literacy nerd. She reads obsessively and it's her strongest point.

DS is not so strong in literacy. In fact he struggles a bit. I think he's not really engaged with it as much so his mind is darting about from random thought to random thought. There's literally an interruption every sentence.

[VioletBam]

Backing my DD1 who never did this is ALSO a massive literacy nerd! She's obsessive about reading and very interested in language and grammar.

DD2 is also no so strong...she loves stories but didn't learn to read as quickly...it must be her way of improving her skills or something.

I will try to find something more exciting for her tomorrow I think. I reckon she'd like Harry Potter. I don't have my copies as DD1 didn't like the series so I gave them away when we moved.

Library it is!

[paxillin]

Pick books without pictures. At 8, it is lovely to still read to them, use it to read stuff she wouldn't have the patience for herself.