I received a press release about a new site, coolmom.com and went to see what it was about. The first video I viewed hit home immediately: “I Hate This Book.” Daphne Brogdon is the star of the show and posts clever videos about being a mom. In the “I hate this book” segment she talks about reading the same, boring books over and over and over again. She reads 5 books to her daughter every nap and nighttime. Wow, five , I try to get away with three. Admittedly, failing miserably some nights.
Anyway, tonight I tried a different tactic. Daphne talks about how she hates the Little People Farm book. My son is a Little People fan and loves the “Cars, Trucks, Planes and Trains“version. He’s stuck on this book right now. Wants us to read it to him over, and over and over. Frankly, I’m over it. I’m over reading how Eddie and his frog Freddy are going on a plane and how Sonya Lee is boarding a train and rowing a boat. Enough.
Back to tonight. It’s our quiet time before bed. PJs are on. My son is drinking milk. The lights are dimmed low and we’re sitting in the living room. I pick up the latest edition of a magazine I’ve neglected since it’s arrival in my mail box last week and begin to flip through it while relaxing on the comfort of on the couch. My son, of course, picks out the Little People vehicle book and wants me to read it to him.
I say, “OK, but next we are going to read ‘Entrepreneur’ Magazine.”
“OK,” he replies.
So, we read the Little People book, then proceed with “Entrepreneur.” I’m not sure how it will go, but it ended up pretty good. It’s all in your annunciation.
“If you’ve got a COMPUTER, you don’t even have to get out of BED to secure a loan for your startup!”
“In (deep voice) TOUGH TIMES, (shift to monotone voice) it’s more important than ever to squeeze all the profit you can from your business.”
So, we read the headlines like that through each page. It entertains him and gives me the fix I need.
Watch the coolmom video to see what books Daphne recommends, so you’re not stuck reading “Cosmo” to your kids.
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ABOUT ALICIA: Alicia is the founder of Balancing Motherhood.com. Last year, she managed to stay sane while completing an MBA, working full-time, blogging, and still baking amazing birthday cakes ā all while raising a young family at home.
Debbie says
I love your idea of reading the headlines of Entrepreneur Magazine-in voices, of course! I love it so much that I’m using it as my next post in my blog….mommaschoice….is that ok?
For years I would “edit” the books as I read them, and I really don’t think the kids fully understand them until they’re a little older, anyway-it’s the ‘sit next to mommy time they’re really after, don’t you think? If I was really tired, we would just go thru the pictures and talk about them.
I like your blog, and bet we see you in the next edition of the top 100 mom blogs!
Alicia at BalancingMotherhood.com says
Thanks for the note Debbie. I’ll be glad to share my idea … be sure to mention BalancingMotherhood in your post š I’ll have to go visit mammaschoice. Thanks!
Nicole says
LOL! OMG! You’re hilarious! I found your site on the AllTop list and the first post I read really hit home b/c my 2 1/2 year old son looooves the same books over and over and really digs the Little People stuff, too. I’m going to have to try that reading something for me in different voices. š Hooked me…I’m subscribing…