Avid readers with several kids

[Anonymous]

How do you balance solitude/reading with several young kids competing for your attention. I think reading is an important path to self-discovery and knowledge but sense everyone thinks I’m a useless/selfish tub of lard sitting on my ass reading.

[Anonymous]

I read at night when they are either in bed or should be occupying themselves. But I read for pleasure less than I used to. The other option is wake up early and do it.

On weekends, they should be occupying themselves a lot more, especially if they are school age. Then I do whatever I want, sometimes reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read at night when they are either in bed or should be occupying themselves. But I read for pleasure less than I used to. The other option is wake up early and do it.

On weekends, they should be occupying themselves a lot more, especially if they are school age. Then I do whatever I want, sometimes reading.

When I had two under two the secret to my sanity was getting up a half hour before the first baby usually woke up to read and have my first morning coffee.

[Anonymous]

I had to pretty much stop reading for years. Picked it back up when youngest was 5 or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you balance solitude/reading with several young kids competing for your attention. I think reading is an important path to self-discovery and knowledge but sense everyone thinks I’m a useless/selfish tub of lard sitting on my ass reading.

You are perfectly normal and not selfish at all. Reading is one of the ways I recharge my batteries. Perhaps it is for you as well. It's those little self-help things that allow us to be our best for our families. You're not being selfish, you're filling up your gas tank getting ready for what's ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had to pretty much stop reading for years. Picked it back up when youngest was 5 or so.

Yep. Same here.

[Anonymous]

read before bed once the kids are down for the night. It's relaxing and quiet activity so generally a perfect fit for that time of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to pretty much stop reading for years. Picked it back up when youngest was 5 or so.

Yep. Same here.

Funny I was going to say the same thing. Youngest was 5 when I finally read a book on vacation, otherwise it was just a few minutes at night before I went to sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to pretty much stop reading for years. Picked it back up when youngest was 5 or so.

Yep. Same here.

Yea. It's just not realistic with small kids. Reading (books, at least) requires too much undivided attention which is a luxury I simply can't afford at this stage of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to pretty much stop reading for years. Picked it back up when youngest was 5 or so.

Yep. Same here.

+1. I substituted with audio books during my commute and during after bedtime chores.

[Anonymous]

I read at night, like everyone else, or kindle books on my phone in two minute chunks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had to pretty much stop reading for years. Picked it back up when youngest was 5 or so.

+1, although I mostly waited until my kids were older

When I read, I become completely absorbed in reading and don’t really pay attention to little details like eating and sleeping. It’s one thing to occasionally neglect my own needs, but I couldn’t do that to kids. I needed to make sure they were taken care of, and that I would be aware of any problems that might arise. I’d read news, magazine articles, etc. I also spent a lot of time reading with my kids. But unless my husband had the kids for the day, (which was extremely rare), I didn’t think about starting a novel, abd even then I was ususlly trying to get stuff done or just catch up on sleep.

[Anonymous]

My kids loved bath time. So I would sit by the bath and let them splash and play in a contained spot and read for 20-30 minutes. And after they went to sleep. I don’t watch TV so evening were prime reading time (while DH watched sports or whatever).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to pretty much stop reading for years. Picked it back up when youngest was 5 or so.

Yep. Same here.

+1. I substituted with audio books during my commute and during after bedtime chores.

+1 to audiobooks. I also try to read child friendly but actual literature at bedtime in addition to a storybook, which makes me feel like I’m passing some of my love of reading to her.

[Anonymous]

I have burned dinner on occasion because some interesting storylines developed just at dinner time

On the contrary, OP, I believe that seeing me prioritize reading made my children into the bookworms they are today. No regrets! And I never actually fed them burned food... there's always something else to serve