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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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.[/quote]

You are lazy and neglectful if you're reading when your kids are awake and trying to get your attention. You're not entitled to escape parenthood by ducking into a book. I used to be an avid reader but haven't read a book since having kids. If you really want some time to read, then you need to wake up early and get everything else really organized so you can have time to read a little bit after they go to bed sometimes. Plus you'll have to give up any other hobby if your priority is reading. But you need to be realistic and not expect to do this every night because other more important stuff will come up if you have "several kids."[/quote]

This is either hyperbole or completely nutballs. Obviously you shouldn’t ignore your children to read a book, but neither should your children require your constant attention. I read when they’re playing together or with a friend, I read when I’m nursing, I read in the school pickup line or waiting at an activity, and I listen to audiobooks while I’m cooking, cleaning, doing laundry. I have four kids, my house is clean and tidy, I cook from scratch, and I homeschooled all last year. I also read 104 books in 2020. [/quote]

OP indicated that he/she has [b]several young kids competing for her attention[/b]. It's normal to be on a lot more with several young children because someone inevitably needs your attention even if it's not all of them 100% of the time. No, it's not reasonable to expect them to leave him/her alone to read. Nursing is different because you're just sitting there anyway so it's a great time to read. OP has to give up something else if he wants to carve out time to read, and that something can't be parenting or his job. Surely you gave up something (or don't work?) if you read so much with young kids?[/quote]

You're right, I thought the PP I was replying to (not sure if that was you!) had added that because I didn't reread the OP. I apologize for my tone. It is indeed unreasonable to expect toddlers to leave you alone while you read, but even little kids have periods of entertaining themselves. I got some of my best reading done when I said "when you're done playing, we're going to do (not very pressing but not particularly fun errand) and my 3yo went and played by herself for 45 minutes." Obviously this gets harder the more kids you have, because someone is always skinning their knee or teasing their sister or wanting to know what's for dinner. And yes, I'm a SAHM. My husband has a lot less time to read than I do. He also has a lot more other hobbies, earplugs for an uninterrupted night of sleep, and regular exercise! It all evens out.[/quote]

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