“Have time to read”…make time or ignore other responsibilities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Audio books can enable you to multi task. Listen while you do chores, make dinner or commute.

Yeah, but be careful, it's easy to overdo it and forget that our brains need some of that idle time for thinking.

I also notice that if I'm cooking and listening to an audio book, I'm much less patient with kids/spouse/whomever coming in and interrupting me.

[Anonymous]

I have the kindle app and the Libby app and read 99 percent of the time I’m thinking about scrolling. I do come on DCUM, not really sure why. I have zero social media. Anyway I think reading a few pages of my book is way better than twitter but sometimes I do get sucked in…

[Anonymous]

You might do better reading actual books instead of reading them on your phone. When kids see us using our phones they have no idea what we are doing. If you’re reading a physical book in front of them, that sends the message that reading is important and something adults do. I think a parent sitting and reading a book in front of children sends a strong positive message.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might do better reading actual books instead of reading them on your phone. When kids see us using our phones they have no idea what we are doing. If you’re reading a physical book in front of them, that sends the message that reading is important and something adults do. I think a parent sitting and reading a book in front of children sends a strong positive message.

I’m the Libby app person. I like having a book in my phone for random snippets of time like I’m waiting in line at CVS. I don’t typically sit and read in front of my kids but they both know mom has books on her phone (my daughter loves reading on the Libby app on an iPad - so much easier to get new books than going to the library though we do that too. We are both fast readers)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read after my kid is asleep, before I fall asleep. Your “don’t play with the kids, just read in the same room” is foreign to me, but I only have one child so I am his playmate.

Teach your kid to read, then you can read side by side.

I was the first PP until my kid could independently read. After that, we’d go on fun outings like driving to Politics & Prose or walk over to Kramer’s, each get a book, and read/snack in the cafe. He’s a teen now and we still do it! I love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People think they don’t have time to read bc they use their free time on their phone. I quit SM and found at least an hour a day.

This is my main problem too. I scroll in my spare 5-30 minute chunks instead of picking up a novel.

I’m sure your DH had the time. He is using it to watch sports or look at an app instead.

Like another PP said, audiobooks have helped me keep pace bc I’m moving while I listen, doing chores or just walking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read after my kid is asleep, before I fall asleep. Your “don’t play with the kids, just read in the same room” is foreign to me, but I only have one child so I am his playmate.

Teach your kid to read, then you can read side by side.

I was the first PP until my kid could independently read. After that, we’d go on fun outings like driving to Politics & Prose or walk over to Kramer’s, each get a book, and read/snack in the cafe. He’s a teen now and we still do it! I love it.

I love this.

[Anonymous]

I think you are doing great OP! I do similar. And I always have physical books to read at home in front of kids or before bed, and an e-book on my Libby during random snippets of the day instead of social media. I just come to DCUM sometimes. I like it. I don’t know as much about the latest news etc. as others but I don’t care!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People think they don’t have time to read bc they use their free time on their phone. I quit SM and found at least an hour a day.

This is my main problem too. I scroll in my spare 5-30 minute chunks instead of picking up a novel.

I’m sure your DH had the time. He is using it to watch sports or look at an app instead.

Like another PP said, audiobooks have helped me keep pace bc I’m moving while I listen, doing chores or just walking.

This is such a good point. When it's football and basketball season, there are games on every since night and all day on the weekends. Few people criticize the time suck that is.

[Anonymous]

I go to bed early and spend about 45 min a night reading. I’m also way more relaxed and ready for sleep than I would be if I just scrolled on my phone for that time.

[Anonymous]

Kid in bed at 8pm, I hang with DH for 30ish minutes, then head to bed myself to read for 30-60min. Then off to sleep by 10pm. I will also read in the pickup line sometimes, if I'm in the middle of a "can't put it down" book.

[Anonymous]

Your husband is annoyed that you...as a teacher...read? That is super weird. I will happily ignore my kids if I am reading something great. I tell them that I am reading something great, so they know it's important to read. I will also tell them to go away if I'm listening to a book and knitting. I also sit near them with a book.

Now my 3rd grader reads constantly, and we hang out and read. Or she will go off on her own and read too. You are teaching life skills about personal time, respecting your own mental needs, and that reading is super important. Do a silent book club night, and make popcorn and have everyone chill with their own books. Even little kids can be charmed into this one

[Anonymous]

I usually read before bed.

RE: your husband's comment - I would try to make sure both of you have equal amounts of "free" time so there's no resentment. But if you're on child duty while reading, I don't think that counts as free time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Audio books can enable you to multi task. Listen while you do chores, make dinner or commute.

This is exactly why I do audio books. I love to have a physical book in my hand but that's just not feasible for me currently. Folding laundry, cleaning up after dinner, working out etc. are much more pleasant when listening to a good book!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audio books can enable you to multi task. Listen while you do chores, make dinner or commute.

This is exactly why I do audio books. I love to have a physical book in my hand but that's just not feasible for me currently. Folding laundry, cleaning up after dinner, working out etc. are much more pleasant when listening to a good book!

Ugh I loathe audio books. Way too slow and I don’t want to hear someone else speaking, I want to just read it. I read next to my kids or sometimes while they are playing, if I don’t have immediate chores. Also after they’re in bed, and while commuting on metro. They are 7 and 10. 3 years ago I definitely read less as they needed a lot more immediate attention. Now I go to the library at least once a week to exchange books for me and the kids. It’s great.