I'm struggling to write in my child's reading diary

[thecoperope]

I just can't do it. I have some sort of mental block and it's really stressing me out.

I read with my child, they read alone, we go to the library and have a load of books. Reading is great ,writing is great, comprehension is great, and there are no concerns.

Except the reading diary. I just can't bring myself to take the diary out if the tables a mess, but before I can do the table I have to do the sides and then after the table I have to do the floor and put a wash on.

And if I take the book bag away from the door, it doesn't matter how hard I try I forget either the reading book or the diary, or the bag. I can't find a pen. I just get so stressed when the stupid diary is present. what do I write? Good reading? every time?

We usually read at bed time when we are all in bed. pens aren't allowed in the bedroom and book bags are at the front door. It's natural for us to read at bedtime or in the day when we are relaxing on the sofa. these aren't pen rooms. Reading books and pens don't mix! Just let us read! Why faff about?

Why do I find this easy thing so difficult? I'm retiring the reading diary.

It’s hard to know from your tone if you’re joking but if you’re not I really think you need to see someone about this. It’s not normal, behaviour. Procrastinating because you don’t want to do it is one thing but this is much more than that.

I don't fill it in. Used to, but no longer. DC reads loads, I read to DC every day. School has never mentioned it.

Dd was a voracious reader and I had no concerns about her reading and I was sure the teacher had none either. I just made stuff up and filled up a month at a time. We only turned it in once a month.

if you can’t do that, then relax your pen rule. You could use a frixion pen so it would be erasable.

Teacher here-just write what they read and what page they got up to. If you write that-you’re doing more than the vast majority of parents that I know.

I also struggle with this, I do have anxiety and I hate the pressure of making my child read (reluctant reader) it works better for us when we don't have that pressure. I've not written in that record for 3 weeks

I just sign it in the morning when I get the bags and water bottles ready.
Pens are all in a cupboard so easy to find.

I just write good reading. Every single time.

Sound alike a bigger issue and lots of advice given. Haven't read the full thread but what about a good job stamp to get it out the way while you seek some support for the bigger picture 🙂

I’m the same OP. I read with them but hate writing in the diary. I haven’t written in it for a good couple of weeks.

Is the diary a fairly sturdy notebook? I'd attach a pencil somehow to remove some of the stress. I do like the sticker idea though. And yes I don't think those thought patterns are normal or healthy and you should probably see someone about that.

My DH once wrote a really sarcy comment in DS's reading record about the main character's struggle. It was about a sad bunny as far as I remember. I usually stick to, 'great reading- good expression!' Definitely feel your pain.

Honestly, this needn’t be a nightmare. Make life easy for yourself. Keep a pencil in he book bag and write the date and ‘read pg 1-7 to mum’…

Theres a stamp you can buy from Amazon- I read with an adult.

I use that sometimes.

My son does his and fakes my signature 😤 as I hate the damn thing.

He just did the entire Easter holidays reading log tonight.

He's 11.

I just used to tick the box and say "next book please".

Both of mine read a LOT and we still read at bedtime now and they are headed off to secondary this year. They devour books at bedtime as they aren't allowed screens at night. The reading record doesn't need to be a work of art.

Tick. Done. Next please.

In fact, both of mine I stopped even marking theirs once they got into Y3.

I don’t mind the reading diary but the thought of not being able to take a pen into certain rooms is making me anxious! However, I only have 1 DC so I’ve got it easy; if I had four lots of comments to think of every day it might be a different story..!

Oh lovely, please speak to your doctor.

This sounds bigger than a reading record log and I think you might need support.

I have an anxiety disorder and OCD and my doctor is really supportive.

There is no harm in having a chat .

Hi OP, it sounds like you've got some disruption to your executive function and that could be a sign that you are not neurotypical. Do have a chat with your GP, because there will be solutions and strategies you can try that will help reduce that feeling of overwhelm
Good luck x

I hate it too, OP. I just do the entries (essentially date, title, "Good reading!", sign) all in one go the night before. DC needs to have 5 (!) entries per week or get a lunchtime detention. I rebel against it on principle. And I'm a primary school teacher!

When do they get checked? I can relate, even if not as bad(same with other small,stupid things that sometimes actually don't get done because it's easier).
DD's used to be checked on Fridays only.

What I used to do is do it at the weekend (normally on the Friday so it was out of the way) and filled it in for the next week. I knew she'd definitely read the book from school ,if not more as well so always stretched the book out for the week. Just date, name of book,pages read,signature. Never left a comment. I forced myself to to do it for at least a month and soon it because part of my routine(I have many) so it stopped being so overwhelming and a thing.

I could've cried when they started checking them every day!!!

I also hate it, esp as my kid is perfectly proficient at reading and reads independently all the time.

I've given myself permission to only ever comment 'good reading' but tbh we don't read together much anymore.

Gently OP, are you ok?

It seems like there's a lot going on here and you might benefit from some help. Might it be worth a visit to your GP?

For what it's worth, I also hate the reading diary. We sign weeks at a time, usually in a mad dash on a Friday morning, we call it the book of lies!

You can just have them fill it in? Mine do that. Or if too small to write just write "Read pivately and discussed". Its not meant to cause stress, if they read already take it off your worry list.

Ditto sign and page numbers read. Unless child really enjoyed the book / subject or did something different - then make a note.

When they were too small to write themselves I would simply write:
"Five on a treasure island P23-32" or whatever.
Once they were old enough then they wrote basically the same with occasional comments, normally what they'd liked in the chapter.
Never had any complaints about that.

Don't get what is so difficult unless writing 5 words a day is tricky