Reading Makes Me Cry...

[mathmarm]

So, as some of you may know. I--as an adult--am not a recreational reader. I wasn't a reader as a kid and did enough to get it over with. I didn't enjoy books at all--honestly I still don't really, but I have enough self-discipline and interest in my child(ren) to be willing to make some changes.

 

I have began reading to Jr. (who is still in the womb at the moment) every day. 15 minutes in the morning and in the evening for a total of 30 minutes a day. I have even gone to quite a few Story Times at the library just to get into the habit of reading for recreation. I have also started reading some adult literature (not typed-out porn, but books written for adults--just so that we're clear!) to try and find my 'niche' so I can get over the whole: 'I hate to read and I dislike books' mentality that has plagued me since elementary school.

 

Anyway, about the crying part:

when I read aloud, I yawn...a lot.

It is distracting and frustrating, but I can't help it.

When I yawn a lot, my eyes tear up and I 'cry'.

When I cry so much, my eyes get puffy and irritated....which makes me really want to cry!!!

 

Does anyone else have this problem? How can I get past this?

[SorrelZG]

...Perhaps with a much more lively reading? Get all dramatic, act it out, make your neighbors think you've lost your mind. Junior will love it. Promise.

[Splash]

Sometimes that can indicate you'd benefit from vision therapy

[EKS]

I was very bad at reading aloud, probably because I wasn't really a very good reader (I believe I have dyslexia that was never diagnosed).  Anyway, when my older son was a baby, I read children's books aloud to him but I had a hard time enjoying reading the more difficult books aloud (more difficult children's books, I mean) though I did get somewhat better over time.

 

Then I started homeschooling and reading aloud a lot every day, starting with books on a 2nd grade level (or so).  The difficulty gradually increased and as it did, my ability and enjoyment increased as well.  Now, ten years later, I just finished reading Jane Eyre aloud and I really enjoyed myself.  There is no way I could have done that ten years ago.

 

It helps to have an audience--one that is reacting to the reading.  My suggestion is to wait until the baby is born, and then once he or she is old enough to enjoy books, start reading aloud--children's books that he/she will enjoy.  If you read aloud a lot, as your child grows, your reading ability, and likely your enjoyment, will grow as well.

[Mom2TheTeam]

I was very bad at reading aloud, probably because I wasn't really a very good reader (I believe I have dyslexia that was never diagnosed).  Anyway, when my older son was a baby, I read children's books aloud to him but I had a hard time enjoying reading the more difficult books aloud (more difficult children's books, I mean) though I did get somewhat better over time.

 

Then I started homeschooling and reading aloud a lot every day, starting with books on a 2nd grade level (or so).  The difficulty gradually increased and as it did, my ability and enjoyment increased as well.  Now, ten years later, I just finished reading Jane Eyre aloud and I really enjoyed myself.  There is no way I could have done that ten years ago.

 

It helps to have an audience--one that is reacting to the reading.  My suggestion is to wait until the baby is born, and then once he or she is old enough to enjoy books, start reading aloud--children's books that he/she will enjoy.  If you read aloud a lot, as your child grows, your reading ability, and likely your enjoyment, will grow as well.

 

The above is exactly me.  I was just talking to my husband last night about my recent thoughts on me being undiagnosed dyslexic.  He thinks I'm nuts, but whatever.  LOL!!  Anyway, I've only been HS'ing for a little over 2 years and my oldest is 7.  I'm much better at reading out loud than I used to be.  It comes with practice.  Just keep at it.  :thumbup1:

 

[Farrar]

I'm also wondering about vision therapy or even just reading glasses.

 

There's also always audiobooks...

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

I'm also wondering about vision therapy or even just reading glasses.

 

There's also always audiobooks...

 

 

There is nothing wrong with using audiobooks. We are voracious readers here, but we still love audiobooks.

[TraceyS/FL]

I'm the same way - except I love to read to me, and have no issues. BUT, once I start reading aloud my eyes water and i'm going to fall asleep. 

I know I have double vision and had simple exercises to do as a child - but i'm certain there was more to it that the doc would find today. I need new glasses and I want him to do the exam! :D

Audiobooks are my friends for the kids - and they love them! I can handle short books aloud these days, but the thought of reading something long to them makes me cringe. I can't do it. With the amount I can get thru each time it would take us like a year to read, say, Harry Potter!

HOpefully you find your personal reading niche though!!

[fairfarmhand]

I'd wonder if you had an undiagnosed eye problem as well.

 

Audio books are good.

[Moxie]

I have the exact same issue! Reading aloud and singing make me yawn, yawning makes my eyes water. It is why I never sing in church. I can't help with a solution but I'd love one!

[mathmarm]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The website is acting wonky so I will reply in bulk to everyone.

 

@ "Mrs. P"

I have no real talent for acting, but I will work on being more lively about it. I will start buying/borrowing some audiobooks just so that I have some example to try and mimic with my own readings. Actually the more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Shadowing an audiobook...thanks!

 

@Splash

I already wear glasses???

 

@EKS

But its not that I can't read well. As a child I was an excellent reader (common comment from my report cards and teacher evaluations) I just didn't enjoy reading at all. I read with fluency and (reasonable) comprehension no matter what I read. I just don't enjoy reading (fiction. more specifically). I used to hate reading fiction. (That is considered progress, right?) I'm practicing and building the habit now because I feel more than a little like an idiot reading aloud to an empty room. It helps that Jr. seems to kick more and move more during or right after a reading session as if participating or offering feedback. I think he likes Frog and Toad, weird as that sounds...

 

I don't want to wait until Jr. is older to begin reading to him regularly because of my own childhood experience. I want to read with him now to make it a habit that we will observe with some semblance of regularity...Even if I decided to wait until he was older that doesn't help with the whole reading --> yawning --> crying thing at all. It doesn't happen when I read silently (as much) but reading aloud it happens obsessively. I cant see how waiting until Jr is a toddler will change that.

 

@Mom2theTeam

Thanks for the encouragement! I will continue to read! I have began to realize that one of the reasons that I didn't like reading was that I didn't like what I was reading.. Growing up, we had a limited selection at my school and my family rarely, if ever, went to the small town library. My mom is a poor reader, my dad is functionally illiterate. But both were very brilliant in other ways and they taught us math as our educational recreation. (My mom was a high school math teacher, and a very excellent one at that.) We couldn't afford books but we could afford chalk and we wrote on every shred of material that was receptive to lead or ink.

 

I am reading more interesting things now, and its not that I dislike the books that I've picked. I scrupulously pick the children's literature/books that I do because until Jrs. comprehending and later reading becomes an issue, we're going to have what Mama and Papa want to read/hear since we're the ones who are reading it and listening to it! I am only willing to admit to enjoying the childrens story time at the local library because I'm anonymous online--but I've really enjoyed a couple of them! The woman and man who read the books are GREAT readers! I have never heard books read that way before. Its what I want to be able to read like :).

 

@farrarwilliams, mama-san.2, fairfarmhand and TraceyS/FL

 

Any audiobooks in general that you guys think are great?

 

@Moxie

--Thank GOD that I'm not alone hear with the reading aloud > yawning > crying!

 

I'm a teacher for Gods sake! Its not like talking/lecturing aloud makes me yawn obsessively! Reading short assignments or whole texts to myself doesn't phase me but I can't get through a Frog and Toad book without crying?!?!

 

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm going to convince Hubby that we need a new category in the budget for audiobooks--wish me luck!!!

[PeterPan]

You may very well have a vision problem.  You would go to a developmental optometrist (find through COVD), not a regular one.  They can check you for convergence, focusing, tracking, etc.  It would cause exactly the symptoms you're describing.  

[Moxie]

You may very well have a vision problem.  You would go to a developmental optometrist (find through COVD), not a regular one.  They can check you for convergence, focusing, tracking, etc.  It would cause exactly the symptoms you're describing.

I'm pretty sure my problem is an oxygen/breathing issue. I really can't sing a line without yawning. Our Priest must think I'm bored stiff!

[Twigs]

… I just don't enjoy reading (fiction. more specifically). I used to hate reading fiction. (That is considered progress, right?) I'm practicing and building the habit now because I feel more than a little like an idiot reading aloud to an empty room. It helps that Jr. seems to kick more and move more during or right after a reading session as if participating or offering feedback. I think he likes Frog and Toad, weird as that sounds...

 

… reading --> yawning --> crying thing at all. It doesn't happen when I read silently (as much) but reading aloud it happens obsessively. I cant see how waiting until Jr is a toddler will change that.

 

… I didn't like reading was that I didn't like what I was reading.. …

 

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm going to convince Hubby that we need a new category in the budget for audiobooks--wish me luck!!!

 

:hurray:  :hurray:  :hurray: for your work in developing this habit for Jr.!

 

If you don't like reading fiction, pick some non-fiction! Maybe spend 15 minutes on fiction and 30 (oops!) 15 minutes on non-fiction.

 

I used to yawn and cry when I read hard to read, older books, like Understood Betsy, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms. So I could be that. I've also heard that yawning can be caused by lack of oxygen, so make sure you are taking frequent breaths.

 

For audio books, don't forget Librivox - it's free!

 

Best wishes.

 

ETA: I misread your original post!

[Coco_Clark]

I agree with others that it may be a breathing/ vision issue you can look into.

 

Ill also add that reading children's lit aloud with no children sounds like a recipe to hate reading even more. Trust me, you will be SICK and TIRED of those books before you are thru. It's bad enough with one child who insists on a fourth consecutive reading of Peter Pan but add in more kids? Between my three there are picture books I've read 1,000 times I am sure. Why begin before they are born? All good things come in time. And are better in their proper time.

 

The great thing about books and children after all, is that the audience makes the task worthwhile. Even if you don't enjoy reading, you will enjoy ther enjoyment. Not to mention that their appetites grow as they do, you start out reading 2 minute long Sandra Boynton board books and increase gradually as they age up. I don't know that there is any need to get used to reading for long periods now.

[SharonUF]

Yawning is your body's natural reflex to get more oxygen. When you are tired you take shallower breathes which causes yawning. That can happen while reading aloud, too. If I read too quickly and do not pause for some really deep breaths now and then I yawn, too. I also have to have a glass of water at hand or my reading aloud time is very short. Try some deeper breathes first and see if that helps with your yawning and your eyes. Best wishes!

[PeterPan]

Btw, I did the yawning thing for years with read alouds (which you can find on my posts here on the boards!), but just this year got glasses for reading.  Technically I should have bifocals, but instead I got them separate so I can have the full frame for computer use. It eases some of the strain of focusing (my convergence is weak), and that stopped my problems with reading.  Technically I need to do more VT (vision therapy).  I did some, but just got busy and didn't carry through.  

[boscopup]

The great thing about books and children after all, is that the audience makes the task worthwhile. Even if you don't enjoy reading, you will enjoy ther enjoyment. Not to mention that their appetites grow as they do, you start out reading 2 minute long Sandra Boynton board books and increase gradually as they age up. I don't know that there is any need to get used to reading for long periods now.

 

Yes, their attention span is SOOOOO short at a young age. You won't start out reading War and Peace to a toddler. ;) I didn't get beyond VERY short picture books until my kids were at least 3 or 4. Chapter books are more like age 6 in my house - one chapter at a time.

 

I still have Sandra Boynton's books, The Going to Bed Book and Horns to Toes and Inbetween memorized. They were our nightly ritual from about 12 months to 2 years or so with all 3 kids. :D I never got tired of them, since the kids loved them so much. I DO get tired of anything Cat in the Hat or Dr. Seuss though. :tongue_smilie:

 

[SorrelZG]

I have the exact same issue! Reading aloud and singing make me yawn, yawning makes my eyes water. It is why I never sing in church. I can't help with a solution but I'd love one!

I get the singing yawns! DH does too. I hate it when we are singing in family devotions and we both yawn at the same time so there is no one to carry the tune and the whole hymn is interrupted. :P I think that it's related to breathing and oxygen intake levels in our case.

[kiwik]

I'm pretty sure my problem is an oxygen/breathing issue. I really can't sing a line without yawning. Our Priest must think I'm bored stiff!

If you are asthmatic or have a related problem I would go with this - reading aloud, singing and exercise all make me yawn although if I can get through the first 10 minutes it eases off.

[JudoMom]

When you are reading aloud, concentrate on your breathing. If I'm paying attention to it, I can ward off the yawns much of the time.

 

Also, To Kill a Mockingbird convinced me I could like fiction :).

[fairfarmhand]

Since you weren't much of a reader as a child, I might revisit childhood favorites.

 

The Narnia books are wonderful. (C.S. Louis)

 

I also am a big fan of Agatha Christie mysteries.. Mrs. Marple is my favorite.

 

Our library has a huge selection, so I can check them out before long trips.