to feel miffed that DS doesn't want me to read to him anymore!

[cakedup]

I have been reading DS(10) bedtime stories every single night since he was a couple of years old. I would read to him for 30 - 45 mins, sometimes more.

When he was ill and off school one day, I found some online audio stories for him to listen to, which he enjoyed. In fact he enjoyed them so much, he wanted to carry on listening to them that evening in place of me reading his bedtime story. Ooh nice to have an evening off, I thought!

Then he wanted the audio the next night. Then the next...until 2 weeks later I realised I'd been given the boot .

I asked him what he liked about the audio stories that would make him want to replace his mother for a machine and he told me he liked the way they were read and the different voices they had for the characters.

And before you think that is reasonable, I should mention that I have a drama degree and read very well, character voices and all thank you.

It's now two months later. We are scraping the barrel in finding some decent audio stories online but absolutely no sign of me returning to my role.

As an aside, he is profoundly dyslexic so has never been able to read chapter books himself so I thought I'd be story telling for a lot longer. I did not expect for it to end so soon and so abruptly.

Other recent changes: he has just started walking to/from school alone (I was doing all drop offs/pick ups before), for the first time ever is keeping his bedroom door closed - first during the day and now even at bedtime. He put a 'please knock' sign on his door too !

AIBU to feel a bit miffed I'm less needed as well as a bit proud that ds is getting more independent?

And do you think him not wanting me to read bedtime stories to him anymore is just a part of his whole growing up thing that he's doing at the moment? What other reason could there be?

Thanks ImperialBlether I hadn't thought of the library before now, so we'll be going tomorrow to see what they have. That's interesting re film school, what do they do there - are they making films? He loves watching films - but tbh am concious that I don't let him watch too much TV. He could literally watch it all day long if he could.

mrsjskelton . I never looked at it like that.

LauraChant even I'm welling up at the thought of your dad's face!

Caked up, as a drama grad, could you try and get some audio recording work?

You could give him the shock of his life

I love reading to DS and will be sad when he no longer wants me to. I may have to volunteer for story time at the library.

Helmetbymidnight the ultimate revenge!

Oh yes, just growing up. Wants his independence with door shut etc

He maybe likes the anonymity of it, the distance? If he's not a confident reader, maybe hearing you read makes him think "I'll never be as good as Mum."

This may well be part of it. My son (now an adult) has severe dyslexia. He really took to recorded books and other aids that he could use himself.

I'll be sad when DD doesn't want me to read to her anymore. I can't remember when my father stopped reading to me.

Libraries definitely great for audio books :) I work in a library and there are quite a few parents who are borrow audio books for their DCs because they don't want to be read to anymore, so you're not alone!

Sorry, who borrow. Don't know where the extra 'are' came from.

I think it's a great thing. Listening to audiobooks is a pleasure (although I'm sure you read to him in a great way). I love audiobooks and radio shows, so much I still fall asleep listening to them every night (radio 4 comedies usually on a rotation at the moment). Getting into audiobooks mean both having a love of books (even if you're not a great reader) and being read to even past childhood. Though it must be a sad moment for you, at least he's still wanting to hear stories which is always a positive.

Feeling a little guilty here as keep forgetting to read a chapter of Mr Stink to DCs before bed. They are not going to want me to read to them forever, so will try again tomorrow night.
Sounds like you have lots of happy memories of the time and I bet he will too.

I will say up front that I have always hated reading stories out loud and bedtime stories have always been my husbands job. I can read very well and love reading, I read much more than my husband, my spelling and punctuation is just about acceptable, still to me reading out loud is a chore. Yes, even children's books are tiring. I can read and absorb a tech document, or complex novel but stumble my way through reading aloud a kids story There is a history of dyslexia, adhd, dyspraxia in my family & a few others. So for me I dont miss the bedtime story stuff

My now 10 year old was slow learning to read, then kinda became ok but still wouldn't read for pleasure. He has always loved being read to, loves stories and imaginative play but never any interest in reading for himself. There is no way he would miss a chapter of his bedtime story. He has the type of personality that would love a good book but the only books he ever finished were the short ones sent home by school.

Somewhere druning his 10's ahe went off being read to at night and instead would go to bed with a pen and notepad to draw. He just wanted space and time by himself before bed. Then his reading went through a dramatic improvement within months but he still wanted pen & paper with no read story before bed. He would come home talking about books they were doing at school but no effort to read at home. Yup, just the pen and paper at bed.

I don't miss reading the bedtime story but get how you may. The buggers keep growing up

As said above, you've clearly done a fantastic job getting him interested in books. Audiobooks are new and exciting. Keep the 'mummy reading' door open - who knows, he may decide to walk back through it when audiobooks lose their novelty. Either way, the love of reading and stories is something you've inculcated, and that is awesome.

I use audible.co.uk for audiobooks. If you pay for multiple credits at once you get each book for a pretty great price.

Was going to say the library too and you can download audio books from the library too .

Went to our local library this weekend but they only had one shelf of audio books. We took home 4 lots and the others weren't really suitable for him. The librarian said I could order them in from other libraries but I would need to request a particular audio book. There is no list available of the audiobooks at the other libraries - so not really plausible!

Julietee gosh, from what I can see audible charge £7.99 plus a charge for each book? That's so expensive!

Krampus my ds has no interest in trying to read books at home, he just struggles too much, but loves flicking through comic strips. He has loads of Tin Tin and Garfield books which he loves and it does encourage him to read.

Are you library members?

and what library
there are 2 app call
oneclick digital or overdrive
there maybe other but if you member of library you will be able to download books for free.
there are other app out there. that are free as well.

Is there a library catalogue? Most will have a catalogue online and audio books should be on there so you can search for a book and then see if it's available.

Overdrive is the app our library uses as well.

That's hard, OP. I would think that given a little more time, he will miss you reading aloud to him...it's still a novel thing to him to listen to audio stories.
He's only ten. My ds is ten too, and I love reading to him also. He is still very much a little boy with hugs, etc., although like you, I can see where he is becoming much more independent in some situations. He used to be mama's boy but he is now a daddy's boy, which is wonderful but bittersweet at the same time. I would feel exactly like you, OP. Maybe you can compromise and read to him every other night. Or read for shorter periods, like 15 minutes, spreading a story over several days. You could let him listen to an audio story before dinner and then you read the bedtime story. Enjoy every moment.

Fantastic summerainbow, I had no idea. Very surprised the librarian didn't mention that tbh!

LittleBeautyBelle it's so funny because after closing his bedroom door and listening to his grown up audio story tonight, he came to say goodnight and asked me to carry him to bed like I used to when he was a baby!! We had a good laugh as I stumbled along the corridor trying not to break my back. I'm still getting lots of kisses and cuddles too thankfully. I do saviour such moments knowing it may not last!

Hi cake we've used the "audiobooks" app by Cross Forward Consulting on the App Store. Don't know if you e already been on there, but lots of free audiobooks available as long as you don't mind the classics. My DS (12) is severely dyslexic and it has been a lifeline for him, although he still lets me read to him occasionally. It's been sad for me (as an avid reader) not seeing him learn to read himself, but audiobooks have really helped him gain some independence - I've always seen him as having a reader's brain, just not being able to do the mechanics...it sounds as though your boy is the same

Thanks Atnelpoe I will check it out. I feel the same...at his age I was reading Enid Blyton books and loving them and I wish he could experience the pleasure of reading. I'm not sure that he ever will.