# Did anyone else read parenting books as a child?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-read-parenting-books-as-a-child/183870>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 23, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-read-parenting-books-as-a-child/183870 "2003-06-23T21:30:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-read-parenting-books-as-a-child/183870/21 "2003-06-24T05:29:58Z")

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First one was “Effective Discipline for Parents” because I thought it would teach me how to effectively discipline my parents. What a scam. But I read the rest of 'em, too.

Also read my mom’s obstetrics texts. Nothing quite like your eight-year-old asking you, “Mom, was I a breech birth?”

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**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-read-parenting-books-as-a-child/183870/22 "2003-06-24T05:37:19Z")

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My mother had a ton of parenting books on the care and parenting of twins. Being one of the twins in question, I was interested. Those books contained a lot of interesting facts about twins and helped me understand a lot about the human reproductive process on a cellular level.

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**Author:** ![Quantum\_Butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e79b87/32.png) [@Quantum\_Butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quantum_Butterfly)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-read-parenting-books-as-a-child/183870/23 "2003-06-24T07:26:05Z")

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Heh. We have a family story about this…

Scene: **QB** is a wee **Quantum Caterpillar** of about three or four years old. I already read fluently through no fault of my parents’, and understand what I read; they are just beginning to realize this. Mom is getting ready for work. **Quantum Caterpillar** has followed her Mommy into the parents’ bedroom.

**QC** : (pokes around Mom’s dresser, playing with jewelry and such. Aha, a book! QC reads the cover: Parent Effectiveness Training. Hmm… but vertically it reads PET. What does this mean? QC decides to ask the source of all wisdom, Mommy.) Mommy?

**MOM** : (absently, doing hair or makeup) What, honey?

**QC** : (holds up book) What does Parent Effectiveness Training mean?

**MOM** : (shocked) Where did you get that? Here, give it to me.

**QC** : (rather puzzled, but obediently gives up the book) It was on your dresser, Mommy.

**MOM** : Dear, from now on, you need to ask permission before you read other people’s books.  
Needless to say, I never saw that book again. Mom says it was quite a shock to find her three-year-old with her parenting book 😛

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