I am a terrible mother... I lost it with DD with her reading today...

[minko]

She's only 5 bless her, some days she's really good and others it seems she can't be bothered. She tries to guess the words (whilst pretending to spell them out), won't try to spell them out and then she reads words from right to left which I just don't understand. I find it really frustrating. I want to help and encourage her but sometimes I feel I am the wrong person to be trying to do this as it drives me mad...

The school does seem to expect a lot of parents on this score (we have new reading books virtually every day), I have cancelled virtually all after-school stuff as I feel we have to go home and read and then the poor girl gets no rest.

Minko- phone them, this seems to be a fairly regular offer, dd got the set for same price a couple of years ago, they go in and out of stock. They are great books; as I said, funny easy to start with , colourful pictures

Dear Minko - I'm so glad you posted this! My daughter will not read with me. We get the books home. She turns her face to the wall. She turns back, looks me in the eye and says "No!" Not always. But often enough for me to feel rejected, unloved and a bad, irritated mum. I compensate with reading to her. At least Littlefish thinks that's O. K. and there seem to be many of us in the same boat, and they all seem to learn in the end. Minko, you're not alone. And now I know I'm not, either.

on ebay if you hurry

this set has 3 days left

This is how all things homework go in our house regularly

"Right, DD1, what is 2 x 3'?

DD1 "ok, 2 x 4, errr" busily counting every digit

"No, I said 2 x 3, you're doing the 3 times tables aren't you?'

DD1 'Yes, er..what was the question again?"

Badly disguised sigh from me " DD1, 2 x 3"

DD1 immediately "8"

Me "2 x THREE, you have 3, now add another 3"

DD2 (2 years younger) from next room "It's 6 mum"

Me "See? see? even your little sister who's in Reception can answer that!"

DD1 "Can I do my literacy homework instead mum?"

Been there and done that minko. Have been known to yell at dd - "Do you want to grow up serving burgers to fat, fugly men in a greasy spoon cafe? - because unless you knuckle down and try, that's what you'll end up doing"

I've made a concerted effort to stay calm with dd recently (despite the frustration) as obviously my little outbursts were not helping with her confidence!

Apologies if this has already been said, but:

Step away from the bookbag. Do NOT get her to read to you for a good few weeks. Read to her instead. Once it gets to the tense, stressful level that causes you to lose it (and most of us have been there, and are not terrible mothers, btw ) all you are going to do is end up with a child who hates reading. Really, leave it alone for a while and have fun reading stories she enjoys. Then eventually you read a page, she reads a line or two, and build up from there. It shouldn't be a nightmare chore, and she has to get the message that reading is a positive, fun experience.

My DD could barely read "cat" in Year 2 (and I despaired) - she's now at Uni doing English Lit. Your DD will get there in the end, but enjoyment has to be the aim.

"My DD could barely read "cat" in Year 2 (and I despaired) - she's now at Uni doing English Lit"

Wow and double wow! There is hope for us all - see minko?

(my dd currently languishing at bottom of class for reading, so I know how you feel)