DD15 still reading dork diaries

[philomenacunky]

My dd turned 15 in feb. Shes a perfectly normal 15 year old and doesn't enjoy childish things. The other day though I saw her reading a Dork diaries book, is this normal for her age? If you're not aware these are books aimed at much younger children. I know she is capable of reading much more mature books than this, she reads things like Of Mice and Men, Macbeth, Christmas carol etc for school.

I haven't told her off for this I'm just very confused, why is she reading these books at her age? Aibu for thinking it's weird?

I'd rather her read something a bit innapropriate than dumb her brain down with children's books

Not innapropriate per say but a bit more adult/mature

She could be reading 50 shades of grey? Now that's both inappropriate and dumbing your brain down yet still massively popular

I'm a massive reader of classics modern and old but I still like a bit of chick lit or chalet school or various other non high brow offerings

I take it you only watch documentaries etc?

Honestly. Let it go. Let her read whatever she likes.

She's reading. And is in a period of her life where daily life is fucking relentless- teen; exams; school; puberty; peer group issues; no agency over her life because she is a child at the mercy of parents wishes and school wishes.

Just let her be.

I "dumb my brain down with children's books" all the time. I'm amazed I'm still functional.

Let her read what she wants to read.

Let her read what she wants. You can offer to buy her books or take her to bookshops/libraries or recommend some but leave her to enjoy reading what she wants.

Should add btw that I went on to do English Lit A Level and then studied French and Politics at a v good uni where we studied Proust and Sartre and more in the original french. Wasn't dumbed down at all by reading kids books.

The Hobbit was another one I read as a teen.

I was thinking 50 shades too.

Well on my way to my 50s and I still have an annual reread of My Friend Flicka, Mallory Towers and Harry Potter.

She’s reading, let it go.

I'm a highly educated 30 something woman and I reread my favourite books from childhood / early teens about once a year.

Hardly dumbing my brain down 🙄

Is that because you're concerned she won't be able to spell, construct a sentence and use punctuation properly?

Obviously not 50 shades level of adult but something with a bit more depth than Dork diaries would be nice. And no I don't only watch documentaries but I certainly don't watch children's shows for fun!

Her sister (a year younger) is fully capable of reading Stephen king, classics, etc while she's stuck on dork diaries

By "mature" do you mean things like Of Mice and Men, Macbeth, Christmas carol etc?

I say this as someone who found a set of all four "Magic Faraway Tree" books in a charity shop and reread them recently.

Dear god the kid is reading something she enjoys, for a break from life and study and you're meaning she's not reading Lady Chatterleys Lover.

So not tell get off for something that's got nothing to do with you.

What about my post gives you the idea that I can't construct a sentence or spell properly?

Erm, it's per se, not per say. Maybe you're the one who needs more maturity?

She's not "stuck" if she's reading those things at school.

Stephen King is no better quality than Dork Diaries.

I reread some enid Blyton recently, regularly whack out my Harry Potter books too. I shock horror read some of my 10 year olds David Walliams books recently too and thoroughly enjoyed them. Reading is meant to be fun and sometimes you just need an easy read.

But she's not STUCK. She decided to read something light and funny to her. It's not a sign of a depraved mind or her failing to reach her full capability. It's a book

I can’t quite work out whether you are serious or not.

I am 47. Most of what I read is either YA, school stories ( Chalet School etc). My 17 year old DD is currently rereading Malory Towers. I like it - we can reminisce about it together. I’d have more problems relating to her if she were existing on a diet of Hello and OK and/or were reading 50 shades of Grey.

Leave her reading choices alone. It really isn’t up to you what she chooses to read.

My year 10 dd hates reading. Your dd is at least reading when mine reads a few sports headlines. You really don’t appreciate just how fortunate that is.

She is reading and relaxed. She is capable of reading more mature books but chooses what suits her at this moment. You have the problem, not her. Leave the poor child alone.

Not innapropriate per say but a bit more adult/mature

Probably because you spelled "inappropriate" incorrectly and it's "per se" and not "per say". You also used zero punctuation.