To be unable to read this book to my children?

[AudTheDeepMinded]

Took my 3 DSs to the museum today. Eldest is going to be learning about WWI soon and there was an exhibition about local soldiers. Bought a lovely book in the shop entitled 'Where the Poppies Now Grow' to share with them. Only I can't read it, I tear up on page one, my throat closes and I can't get the words out. It just makes me feel indescribably sad. I had the same problem with 'War Horse' and 'No Matter What'. Does anyone else have this problem or am I just very wet?

Your not being wet. Its a tragic and very sad book its bound to make many people cry. That said i would read it and let them see you cry. Its a powerful part of history and crying is a normal reaction to it.

I can't go anywhere near War Horse. Even a poster for the stage show sets me off, and I don't know the story, I can't bear the thought of it.

I can't judge you at all. I teared up and couldn't properly finish Mr Stink! I would be a mess trying to read that.

I was dreadful for this with a lot of picture books.

Always cry at the The Bog Baby, and the Snail and the Whale where the whale gets saved. Oh and Peepo - OMG!

Its okay to cry.

Dogger the one that got me. Cried every single time I read it.

ArthurMartha I can't actually get any words out, it's that bad! I might just get them to read it to me (both fairly reluctant readers!). Win/win!
BaldricksCoffee I saw the play once and sobbed from the opening song! People around me must have thought I was a right one!

If you're wet I'm not sure what that makes me, I choked up reading a story about a hungry pigeon (The Last Chip).

i know the feeling, i can barely tolerate the cover of the book Love You Forever by Robert Munch.

I cry at blooming everything. Peepo definitely and had to read it to ds nightly for well over a year.

I worked for someone who couldn't read Charlotte's Webb to her children.

One word:

Dogger

The snail and the whale kills me every time.

There's also certain songs I can't sing along too. A particular one is a folk song called something like 'The women of Dundee' with the chorus
'And the wailin o the bummer and the clackin o the laims
Brought the women o Dundee oot o their bed
And they walked tae mills and factories
And they rocht frae seevin tae fehv
And the women kept the bairns o Dundee fed'

Dunno why it gets me but I just can't join in at all!

I choked up with Charlotte's Web! And Goodbye Mog.

Oh yes Dogger! It's the big sister's kindness... BLUB

Definitely Peepo because it reminded me of my late dgf

So glad it's not just me! Let's form a society of blubbering wrecks forthwith!

I think most people would struggle with singing that song too Aud (something about women keeping children fed?). Think you probably have to be born near Dundee to understand it!

At the end of Goodbye Mog I was a heaving, sobbing wreck and DC asked what was going on so I had to explain that it was about Mog finally dying... then tried to add unconvincingly "but it's not sad because she was old and tired and she's going up to the Sun.... WAIL"

Goodbye Mog!! Cried my eyes out in the childrens section of Waterstones reading that one. My 8 year old was so embarrassed she hid under the table.

Ive read Where The Poppies Blow, and its well worth weeping over.

Bloob you're setting me off again!

I've managed a couple of funeral readings in public ok, but a children's book to my own children? no chance!

I couldn't even get through 'owl babies' when my DC were younger.

Can't listen to 'two little boys' even though Rolf Harris or 'seasons in the sun'.

I am pathetic - can't even watch Dog's Trust adverts.