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

[Anonymous]

After years of not reading, I’m back to reading and happier than ever!

My husband made a comment about how he never has time to himself and he’s jealous I can sit and read a book.

We have 3 little kids, but I read instead of play on my phone and honestly I don’t PLAY with the kids, but I’ll sit and read in the room where they’re playing so I can engage with them.

I’m not a baker or a fancy cook, so I don’t do those things. We have a cleaner so the house is tidy, but I do all the organizing (kids clothes, rooms, putting away seasonal stuff).

I work full time as a teacher but I don’t bring work home. (I get paid too little for that). Husband does all the bills and house paperwork.

Others…do you MAKE time, ignore other things….?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you’re ignoring your kids and family so you can read. Organizing seasonal clothes happens 4 times a year so doesn’t get to be on your “look how much I do” list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you’re ignoring your kids and family so you can read. Organizing seasonal clothes happens 4 times a year so doesn’t get to be on your “look how much I do” list.

'
Way harsh, Tai.

My point is that there is ALWAYS stuff to do...cleaning closets, organizing, etc. I ignore those TASKS to read, but I don't ignore my family. I also get those tasks done but I tend to do them in one longer sitting, instead of 15-30 mins here and there.

[Anonymous]

I think playing with kids is important. Child-driven "special time" was taught in a parenting course I took and even the CDC recommends it for at least 5-10 minutes a day. It's been hugely transformational in particular for my spouse who needed instruction on how to make the time child-driven.

Anyway, I also think reading is important. When mine were small we would get a huge stack of books at the library so they could "read" next to me while I read. It started out being a couple minutes, but the duration lengthened.

It's also important that your kids see you reading, so keep it up! You said you're engaging with them so that's great. Maybe just say a timer for 5-10 minutes of play a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think playing with kids is important. Child-driven "special time" was taught in a parenting course I took and even the CDC recommends it for at least 5-10 minutes a day. It's been hugely transformational in particular for my spouse who needed instruction on how to make the time child-driven.

Anyway, I also think reading is important. When mine were small we would get a huge stack of books at the library so they could "read" next to me while I read. It started out being a couple minutes, but the duration lengthened.

It's also important that your kids see you reading, so keep it up! You said you're engaging with them so that's great. Maybe just say a timer for 5-10 minutes of play a day.

Meant to post the CDC link https://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/toddlersandpreschoolers/communication/specialplaytime.html

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

OP does save time (we all do) by reading a book instead of DCUM or our phones.

I would never sacrifice that by not playing with the kids. I always read after they were in bed. When they are up, read TO them. They LOVE it. I loved it. The time truly passes so quickly and I have genius kids with amazing vocabularies in two languages....

[Anonymous]

I absolutely do not play/engage with my only child every second they’re awake. They need to learn independent play. So yes, I also read while DD is playing. Nothing to shame OP about.

[Anonymous]

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.

I grew up in a household where my mother (a SAHM) often read while we played. I can’t remember a time she every played *with* us — doing crafts, cooking, reading with us yes; free/imaginative play not so much. I have always had a close relationship with her and try to emulate her parenting as much as possible because I feel like she was basically a perfect parent for me. But I had siblings (and have multiple kids) so maybe that makes a difference.

[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.

My 2nd grader has just gotten to this stage and it's amazing!

[Anonymous]

I listen to books all the time - when walking/playing with the dogs, when folding laundry, when making a meal if no one else is around, when getting ready in the morning, etc. I keep my air pods with me almost all the time and will pop them in to listen even if just for five minutes. That's one way I am able to "read" a lot (I work full-time and have two young kids).

I read on my Kindle basically only in bed at night. I don't watch much TV, so that's what I tend to do while my husband is watching something, although I do watch TV a few times a week either with him or by myself. I like reading to fall asleep because my mind is occupied enough by the book that I can't think of anything else (i.e. all the things I have to do the next day) so it makes it easy for me to just lay down the Kindle and fall asleep.

[Anonymous]

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

+1