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?”
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.
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 