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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to pay my 7 year old to read bedtime stories to the 4 year old?

23 replies

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 18:47

I find it rather boring.

AIBU?

OP posts:
2shoes · 28/01/2010 18:47

yanbu
they will enjoy it

Acanthus · 28/01/2010 18:47

Yes. Ask him only occasionally and don't pay him.

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 18:49

50p a story

she has a school fete tomorrow so wants cash

now I am MNing and they are reading stories

surely everybody happy?

OP posts:
brimfull · 28/01/2010 18:53

school fete in january

how novel

2shoes · 28/01/2010 18:57

pmsl at "how novel" on this thread

zanz1bar · 28/01/2010 19:15

your a genius.

Reading practice for 7 year old and bed time story for 4 year old.

genius

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 19:18

it is working okay

they've been going for 30 minutes now

she's got through five Mr Men stories

OP posts:
Pozzled · 28/01/2010 19:21

YABVU. You are teaching both children that reading is boring, and only worth doing if someone is going to reward you for it.

123andaway · 28/01/2010 19:23

Fantastic idea. I wish I had though of when mine were younger! YANBU

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 19:32

Hmm they have now gone to bed and I've been presented with a little hand-written invoice on a scrap of paper

so cute!

OP posts:
FlamingoBingo · 28/01/2010 19:38

YANBU to do it as a one off, but YABVU to do it often!

Being read to isn't just about the book, it's about special time with your parent. And, as pozzled says, you're making it very clear that reading is boring and only worth doing if you're being paid for it.

FlamingoBingo · 28/01/2010 19:39

Or worse, that your child is boring and the only person who wants to be with them is being paid to do so.

But aside from that, very sensible to do it every now and then - I don't pay DD1 to read to the little ones, but I do kind of strongly encourage her to sometimes. Not instead of me doing it at a regular time, but just if they want a book when I'm busy.

nickytwotimes · 28/01/2010 19:40

I'd say it was a good idea from time-to-time.

Jesus, though, at 5 stories a go, you'll be skint in no time.

Smithagain · 28/01/2010 19:41

5 Mister Men for £2.50? I'd call that a result!

princessmel · 28/01/2010 19:43

yabu. It's only a short part of the day and a very important part imo.

But I'd get him to do it for no money, if he liked doing it, every now and again.

princessmel · 28/01/2010 19:45

sorry her...

BendyBob · 28/01/2010 19:46

Ok to ask him to read but I don't agree with the payment part.

BendyBob · 28/01/2010 19:48

Oops same mistake there from me too..'her' I mean of course.

Mutt · 28/01/2010 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mutt · 28/01/2010 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 19:52

she does occasionally read to her little sis, but she didn't want to read much because she wanted to read her OWN book

but she needed the money for the fete

and I've got a sore throat so I couldn't read

It is quite hard to think of ways that a 7 year old CAN earn money really though, isn't it?

OP posts:
BendyBob · 28/01/2010 19:52

That's how I see it too Mutt.

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 19:53

We actually had this conversation:

"Mummy needs to get some work done tonight."
"Oooh mummy, are you writing the Roundup? What is that anyway?"
"Well it's like funny stories."
"That sounds easy - can I do it?"
"Well it's got to be quite good because it's sent to lots of people."
"Oh no, that sounds scary. What if you spell something wrong?"

she is too cute

OP posts:
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