I just realized my rising sophomore DD hasn't read one book this summer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re just getting dumber as a society. Netflix and Hulu have taken the place of books and young people think of themselves as smart because they’ve binged Tiger King or Game of Thrones.

I've never been into reading books and I'm way more informed than many of my peers. I read a lot on foreign policy, domestic politics, education...I've just always preferred articles to books.

[Anonymous]

"We’re just getting dumber as a society. Netflix and Hulu have taken the place of books and young people think of themselves as smart because they’ve binged Tiger King or Game of Thrones."

Yes, social media, netflix and so on are bad but actually, this is nothing new. 35+ years ago I read constantly in MS and HS because my classes were easy in my small home town.

When I went to college, I stopped reading. I read enough for college, grad school and my post-doc but never needed to read an entire book. I didn't read for about 12 years.

When my wife and I moved in together, she would go to the library every weekend. I started tagging along and have read 3 or 4 or 5 books a month for the last 25 years.

[Anonymous]

Our DD, in her early 20’s now, took a long break from reading for pleasure during much of HS and college. When we asked, she said she had so much required reading for school and so much of it was not in genres that interested her, that reading felt like a chore and she didn’t enjoy it. Now that she’s working full time and has a more manageable schedule, she has started reading for pleasure again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD, in her early 20’s now, took a long break from reading for pleasure during much of HS and college. When we asked, she said she had so much required reading for school and so much of it was not in genres that interested her, that reading felt like a chore and she didn’t enjoy it. Now that she’s working full time and has a more manageable schedule, she has started reading for pleasure again.

This is exactly what I did. I read a ton as a kid, just loved it. I read a ton now.

But when I was in high school and college and forced to read, I didn't read on my own for pleasure. I didn't really take it up again until after I was married.

Reading is for older ladies and kids, OP.

[Anonymous]

In my experience...adults who read books fancy themselves superior to those who do not.

I don't read fiction for pleasure but do enjoy non-fiction when I have time to read at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s 19! Leave it alone. If she wants to read she’ll read.

This!

I’m a voracious reader, but if my mom had pushed me, especially as an older teen/young adult I wouldn’t have read a thing.

She’s an adult.
Stop over parenting.

[Anonymous]

I’m 56 and didn’t read at all in middle/high school (and my SAT verbal score showed it!). Fortunately, I had some smart friends who introduced me to good books toward the end of HS and into college; I was particularly interested in John Irving’s work. One of my best friends was a classics major at Columbia so from him I learned to appreciate Virgil, Homer, etc. Currently, I’m working my was through the St. John’s College Seminar reading list, albeit very slowly!

I guess some of us are late bloomers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s 19! Leave it alone. If she wants to read she’ll read.

This!

I’m a voracious reader, but if my mom had pushed me, especially as an older teen/young adult I wouldn’t have read a thing.

She’s an adult.
Stop over parenting.

How am I over parenting?? I haven't tried to push her to read- I just noticed that she hasn't read a book all summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s 19! Leave it alone. If she wants to read she’ll read.

This!

I’m a voracious reader, but if my mom had pushed me, especially as an older teen/young adult I wouldn’t have read a thing.

She’s an adult.
Stop over parenting.

How am I over parenting?? I haven't tried to push her to read- I just noticed that she hasn't read a book all summer.

“I’m going to pick a book or two for her and encourage her to read them.”

Or something like that. Leave her be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s 19! Leave it alone. If she wants to read she’ll read.

This!

I’m a voracious reader, but if my mom had pushed me, especially as an older teen/young adult I wouldn’t have read a thing.

She’s an adult.
Stop over parenting.

How am I over parenting?? I haven't tried to push her to read- I just noticed that she hasn't read a book all summer.

“I’m going to pick a book or two for her and encourage her to read them.”

Or something like that. Leave her be.

So recommending a book and encouraging reading is harassing to a teen? You must be an amazing parent who doesn't offer any advice at all to your children and just lets them be.