Bedtime reading has me in a bit of a predicament
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MummyBloggers
In honour of World Book Day, 5th March 2015, I thought it only too fitting to share my dilemma with you.
We are all aware of the benefits of reading and many would consider it to be one of the most important things we can introduce our kids to.
For me, it’s definitely up there with teaching our youngsters to say no and introducing them to other ways of life. I’m totally that mother who always gives book as birthdays presents. Always.
From opening their mind up to the wonders of the world to offering them an escape from the stresses of everyday life, the benefits are endless.
The fact that they can keep kids happy and entertained without the need for an iPad, smartphone or TV screen is always a plus in my book (see what I did there…!).
However, it is these benefits that are causing my predicament. Armed with the knowledge of just how good it is for my young child, I encourage her to read every night. In fact, I’ll read her a story and then she’ll be allowed to read her own book for about ten minutes. But this is where the problem starts.
This so-called ‘ten minutes’ is starting to extend itself into about 30, 40 and sometimes - dare I say it - 60 minutes. Now before you think, ‘wow, that’s actually pretty good’ (I’m just going to assume that’s what you are thinking…) think about this: bedtime is between 7:30pm and 8:00pm.
If you haven’t managed to work out the calculations just yet - that means she sometimes doesn’t go to sleep until nine. NINE! And most of this reading is done under the duvet with the aid of a teeny, tiny book light (envisage a bulb the size of a €2 coin).
I’m torn because this is exactly what I used to do as a child and I hate to tell her to put the book down. Yet on the flip side, I certainly don’t want to be the mother of that child falling asleep in class (ok, she hasn’t done this just yet, but I can just see it happening…)
We’re back to that good aul motherhood guilt problem: guilty for letting her do something fun, guilty for not letting her do something fun. Oh the joys of being a mum!
Mary Byrne is a staff writer at MummyPages and mum to a horse-crazy, sports-mad, seven-year-old girl.
