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Original poster

Do you cry whilst reading to the children?

158 replies

MrsNormanMaine · 20/11/2008 20:52

I just read The Story of Holly and Ivy (Rummer Godden) to my children (5 and 3) and burst into tears. I do get very into the reading and I loved it when I was a child. Maybe due to recent bereavements (parents) or just being older and a parent myself - or being a sentimental nutter - but have you sobbed openly due to being moved by a story you are reading to your children? How did they react? What did you say?

My daughter was concerned and sweet, my son thought it was hilarious but was also very sweet and tried to get me to read the same bit over and over to see if it kept happening. All in all I think it added something!

I did the same thing reading The Diddakoi (when the Does were going to send Joe to the knackers). Must stop with Rummer Godden!

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 20/11/2008 23:51

heck yes.
lots of stories do it (starting with Dogger and the Velveteen Rabbit) and some films (Black Beauty, poor old Ginger...)

maggottinfestedbodybag · 20/11/2008 23:51

no way.

SmallerClanger · 20/11/2008 23:45

Will look out Rummer Godden - read some as a child but not The Story of Holly and Ivy. Have to strategically leave the room during the start of Dumbo...motherhood has turned me into an emotional wreck really.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 20/11/2008 23:42

The Selfish Giant.

Every time.

nickstmoritz · 20/11/2008 23:27

I cried reading the little house on the prairie books, the bit when their dog dies after the long trip..I read the whole set and I would highly recommend to all you blubbering types like me. Also the diddakoi (when the bullies get her)and Dogger gets me every time.

misselizabethbennet · 20/11/2008 23:22

Oh God, the Baby Mine bit in Dumbo - yes! When DS and I first watched that together when he was about 3 he sobbed and howled. So much so that he didn't even notice me crying too.

Don't like the 'you'll be all alone' bit in Oh The Places You'll Go - I find the whole book a bit scary TBH.

Will definitely be looking up some of these books.

toolly · 20/11/2008 22:55

I always blub away at Annie Rose is my little sister. It's because DS and DD are of similar ages to Alfie and Annie-Rose and I find the last lines spoken by Alfie so poignant
...because she's my little sister and I'm her brother and we'll go on being that forever... even until we're grown up.

Makes me think of them in the future when DH and I are no longer here..

Original poster
MrsNormanMaine · 20/11/2008 22:36

They did enjoy The Story of Holly and Ivy - especially DD1 (aged 5) and she wants it again before Christmas. Better get a mountain of tissues ready.

I am tearful with almost ALL the books you all mention - especially the last bit of Winnie the Pooh.

Mankyscotslass - Have you read 'Once There were Giants' by Martin Waddell? That's get ya - if I love you forever does it - which of course it does me.

I think it's good. I used to be terrified when my mum cried because I only witnessed it at moments of extreme crisis - like when we came home from a holiday and found out my grandad had died. And once on new year's eve when she got hammered and became convinced we were all about to die in a nuclear war - how well did I sleep THAT night?!

But my Dad cried all the time - songs his mum sang, last night of the Proms, the news, brave kids, ill kids, sad kids, old soldiers, the Cenotaph, when ET got lost at the BEGINNING of the film, It's a Wonderful Life. We teased him. Now he's gone, I've turned into him.

OP posts:
moondog · 20/11/2008 22:25

I'm welling up reading thread.

Anchovy · 20/11/2008 22:25

I am as tough as old boots but...

  1. Owl Babies - it is both a criticism and vindication of working mothers, I feel.
  1. We always have a multicultural, non-denominational nativity as behoves a very mixed school. Last year 6 year old DS was Joseph,with a hugely battered face, about 10 stitches and a black eye. He led Mary (Bossy Isabel who he has this mute admiration for)into the middle of the set and surrounded by any number of ethnicities dressed up as Swiss, Chinese, Native Americans, Spaniards and Hawaiians they sang some song about "There is just one world for all us us to share" and I just had tears pouring down my face. I would have waved a lighter in the air had I had one!.

Gah.

Pawslikepaddington · 20/11/2008 22:23

Oh the places you'll go never gets me for some reasom, I don't know why. Dd still loves it though. Have ordered owl babies, monkey puzzle and peepo as Paddington is getting a bit much every night-sob-a-thon here we come!

MadamDeathstare · 20/11/2008 22:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pawslikepaddington · 20/11/2008 22:17

Oh the selfish giant gets me too-read it to dd on london-leeds train with loads of commuters rolling their eyes at my sobs! We have plop-the one about the owl who is scared of the dark-is owl babies by the same guy? Even the blurb wrenched at me! xx

used2bthin · 20/11/2008 22:17

OMG the Mog book I actually think I had blanked that because I was thinking I'd cried at Mog dying then thought hang on, Mog didn't die! So awful DD is never having that book! Atm her favourite book is Monkey and Me which is just about a trip to the zoo, phew!

bythepowerofgreyskull · 20/11/2008 22:16

always get choked up at the end of this

Quattrocento · 20/11/2008 22:16

You're all bonkers

MadamAnt · 20/11/2008 22:15

Bibi - "No Matter What" gets to me too, although I have to suppress both my sobs and my inner nerd that wants to blurt out "starlight will die eventually, acksherly".

I cried at playgroup the first time I read Guess How Much I love You. But you lot have ruined it for me by accusing Big Nutbrown Hare of irritating one-upmanship.

fruitstick · 20/11/2008 22:14

Hassled, I think I might give that one a miss

GentleOtter · 20/11/2008 22:14

I have always broken down reading "The Night Before Christmas" but attempt it every year.

Hassled · 20/11/2008 22:12

I sob constantly and I thing DS3 is dreading me reading to him now - yet still I gravitate towards the sad books. "The Selfish Giant" is one, and "No Matter What" is a killer - the gist of it is that no matter how awful the child is, the mother says she will love him no matter what, and then he asks "What about when you're dead?" and she goes on about love being like stars and their light never dying...

fruitstick · 20/11/2008 22:10

www.amazon.co.uk/Owl-Babies-Martin-Waddell/dp/0744531675/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227218922&s r=8-3

You need it in your life! (well maybe not)

fruitstick · 20/11/2008 22:10

www.amazon.co.uk/Owl-Babies-Martin-Waddell/dp/0744531675/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227218922&s r=8-3

You need it in your life! (well maybe not)

Pawslikepaddington · 20/11/2008 22:07

Why have I never even heard of owl babies? Which rock have I been living under? Oh god, I can't even watch Dumbo-I miss my mum too much, and then dd misses her too (she died in feb), and it ends up as a sobfest!

fruitstick · 20/11/2008 22:04

Owl babies gets me all the time. My Mum died before DS was born and I struggle through the part when their mother always comes back.

And as for the Baby Mine scene in Dumbo ......................................

noonki · 20/11/2008 21:59

Missmattie - Mr men and thomas are both 'Daddy books' in our house - his boredom threshold is much higher than mine!

I sob at all sorts 'this little baby (mirror bit at the end) Monkey Puzzle (coz DS1 always gives me a cuddle at the end ) Little Rabbit Lost (mama reunion bit again!)