Created a big fight with my neighbor over this. Actually, there are a lot of things that ticked me off, but this was the last straw. My mother read to me every night till I was 12 and still quite frequently after then. My dh and I used to read to each other every weekend when we were first married, and I still read newspaper and magazine articles to dh, dd, and mother when I feel that they would be of interest to them. My neighbor seems to think it's childish that I still read most nights to my 16 year old dd. She does read to me sometimes but mostly me to her.(Maybe it's a frustrated actor thing on my part,
I've been told I read rather well :-) At any rate she enjoys it and sometimes askes me to read books she has already read herself. We have a similar taste in books (horror,s/f, fantasy) and it's a way for us to enjoy the books together, plus I find it a way to relax at night. My dd actually found it to be fun to read to the neighbor's younger grandchild when he would come to visit her but she told dd to stop as he would not get that at home (he's 8). She seems to be of the opinion that once a child can read to themselves they no longer need read to. I think it's pathetic they no longer read to an eight year old, but I let it go and said nothing. What ticked me off was that she made fun of my dd because I read to her, then they make fun of her 'cause I kiss her goodnight. I kiss my mom goodnight most nights when I leave her house (she lives 1/2 mile away). So, do you think we're that weird and do you still read to your teenagers?

By Rayanne on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 08:43 am:

Well, my DD is only 8 1/2 months old, so I still read to her.
I do not think that you are weird in any way. I actually think that it is neat that your DD still wants you to read to her. Look at it as a bonding time, and forget about what your neighbor said.

By Eve on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 09:03 am:

If your kids at that age want to spend time with you, then you are doing something right!! If that means, reading to them, then kudos to you. Forget what anyone else says, you know what's best for your kids. I think it's wonderful that you have some real quality time together!

By Tunnia on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 09:12 am:

My dd's first grade teacher told me once that she read to her dd until she moved away to college and that they really enjoyed curling up and spending time reading a book together. I see nothing wrong with reading to your child, no matter what his/her age. It promotes togetherness and bonding. My dd is 8 1/2yo and although she can read to herself quite well (she reads well above her grade level) I still read to her and will continue to do so for as long as she want me to.

By Emily7 on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 09:19 am:

I think that it is a great way to spend time together. I don't think it is weird, but a lovely sentiment of a close relationship.

By Palmbchprincess on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 09:51 am:

I agree with the above comments, who cares what the neighbor thinks!! As long as she is reading on her level, and it hasn't inhibited her own skills it sounds very nice!! As far as kisses goodnight, I pray my kids will still want to kiss me goodnight at 16. A close family is nothing to poke fun at!!!

By Robyn on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 12:40 pm:

This sounds ssssoooooo sweet to me!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 12:55 pm:

My kids don't want me to read to them. I tried reading Harry Potter to them, but no one was paying attention, so I stopped. I think it's great that you read to your daughter and if you both enjoy it, I see no reason to stop. I don't think the neighbor should have made fun of your daughter and there was nothing wrong with her reading to the 8yo!

I read newspaper articles to my DH too, sometimes!

By My2cuties on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 03:31 pm:

We read books together every night. My children are still young so I read to them and they love it. I could only hope that when they get older like your dd that they still want me to read to them. Ignore the negative remarks and do what you feel is right, and what your dd wants.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 04:06 pm:

Your neighbor sounds like a real grinch! Imagine not wanting your dd to read to her gs "because he won't get that at home". So because his parents and gparents don't read to him he should not have the pleasure of your dd reading to him??!!

And to so rudely butt into your family's personal behavior and to dare to criticize your reading to your children!!!

Oh well - some of our neighbors are jerks, and some are big jerks. Too bad you can't take a real estate tax deduction based on the jerkiness of your neighbors.

By Truestori on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 05:36 pm:

Wow,

I feel like a bad parent! LOL My daughter usually reads to herself. (she's 11)

I think that you are doing a great job! Keep up the good work. I can only hope my kids will still want to snuggle and read with me at 16!

By Coopaveryben on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 05:42 pm:

I read to my kids every night and have since they day they were born, I don't plan on stopping until they ask me too. There is something about the sound of your own parents voice that is very soothing. My DH doesn't care for reading but like for me to read to him....It may be childish but it works for our family and it must for yours so who cares what this women thinks.

By Pamt on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 09:43 pm:

I think that's very cool and you are blessed to have such a good relationship with your daughter. As for your neighbor...she's the one to be pitied.

By Dana on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 10:41 am:

Have to agree with others. The other woman has the problems! We should all be so lucky to have such special times with our children as they get older.

I hope you let your daughter see that the neighbor is the odd man out in this topic. So you guys keeping doing it.

By Andyjoy on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 01:58 pm:

That's awesome that you still read to your daughter! When I was 16, my mother and I would take turns driving and reading aloud as my 14-year-old sister listened along. I loved those shared memories as we discovered wonderful books together.

I think it's ridiculous to just drop reading aloud when a child can read. Not only is it great bonding, but it does wonders for a child's vocabulary! My sister could read well, but she was an auditory learner and never really enjoyed just picking up a book and devouring it like my mom and I did. She would have missed out on a lot of great books if mhy mom and I hadn't read them aloud, such as "Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry," "Anne of Green Gables," and "The Indian in the Cupboard."

How sad that that woman won't let her grandson have the experience of being read to by your daughter! I always read to children that I babysat and it made the experience of having a babysitter special for them. It sounds like this woman is just worried that her grandson will get "spoiled" and ask her to give up some of HER time to read to him. What a selfish motivation for ending his fun with your daughter!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 07:31 pm:

My mom says we didn't want her to read to us anymore, once we all learned how to read. I think she tried. I have been reading since I was 4. I don't really remember when my mom actually stopped reading to me. I read to my kids a LOT when they were little, and not so much when they knew how to read.

I remember reading a chapter of On the Banks of Plum Creek to Sarah once. It's the chapter where Laura and Mary keep playing with the haystack after they have been told not to! It's my favorite chapter in all the Little House books!

Occasionally, I come across funny stuff in a book, magazine, or newspaper and I do read that stuff aloud. When I drove up to Door County the other day with my 2 dds and my nephew, we were listening to a book on cd. At the end of the trip, we were all listening and laughing at some of the funny stuff!