this post was submitted on 13 Oct 2025
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[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 2 points 9 hours ago

Those books from the latter half of the 1900s about how to deal with kids just sucked. They all had various ways of trying to force kids who were any other shaped peg but round into a round hole while making the parent(s) feel justified and right about it.

“How to make your child inconvenience you less and not diverge from societal conformity requirements”

We still have similar books today, but those are bought by parents who refuse to acknowledge their kid is different and want conformity for who knows what reason…personal prejudice, religion, personal failure because of the aforementioned, etc.

[–] Rcklsabndn@sh.itjust.works 6 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

My mom had something like, 'How To Love A Troubled Child' in her bedroom bookshelf.

Always hoped it was for my sister.

[–] slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org 4 points 11 hours ago

I once gifted my friend a book that was called: how to deal with difficult people. I saw it at some second hand bookshop and thought it would be funny, you know, because she has to deal with me. Ahe got super upset and kept telling me that she's not difficult.

[–] VicksVaporBBQrub@sh.itjust.works 4 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I'd love finding this book. In fact any book other than the book I found on my parents bookshelf "Modern Childbirth (1972 edition)".

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 4 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

“Modern Childbirth (1972 edition)”

Interesting. I wonder what it deemed modern that would be deemed the sheer opposite today.

I was born around that time, and I know that baby "formula" didn't really exist back then, it was mostly milk powder and sugar. No healthy mommy milk for me.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 55 points 1 day ago

They probably figured you couldn't read it. You sure showed them! Nice job, buddy!

[–] titanicx@lemmy.zip 10 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I need to buy that book just to have it for my kids to find.

[–] Test_Tickles@lemmy.world 2 points 8 hours ago

Just print the cover and wrap any existing book.

[–] Angelevo@feddit.nl 10 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Hey, at least it was not "Help! My child is stupid" .

[–] derpgon@programming.dev 6 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Put these two next to each other for maximum emotional damage

[–] Test_Tickles@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago

Right next to "Lowering your expectations when raising an ugly child."

[–] smh@slrpnk.net 4 points 18 hours ago

My mom had all sorts of books on mental health and disability. I remember one on abnormal childhood development (it had neat examples of pictures kids might draw) and multiple with now-outdated but then-clinical terms in their titles. These were textbooks from her attempt at an MS in social work in the 1980s. Didn't keep the neighborhood kids from teasing me that they were my mom's way of coping with having me.

[–] robolemmy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 1 day ago

Get them back... keep a copy of "Toxic Parents" prominently on your bookshelf.

True story: I was reading that book way back in the early 1990s and my stepdad came over for some reason. I went to put on shoes and when I came back, he had the book in his hands, looking at the cover. He dropped it like it was on fire, we traded an awkward look, then never spoke of it again.

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Now put it on your bookshelf for your children to find. Keep the chain going until it's antique and expensive enough to start making them happy.

[–] Macchi_the_Slime@piefed.blahaj.zone 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

One of my favorite decorations is a bookshelf with very prominently featured titles that make people question either my sanity or their own.

[–] LilaOrchideen@feddit.org 11 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] CluckN@lemmy.world 15 points 23 hours ago (1 children)
[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 2 points 23 hours ago

Right next to Jack Kerouac

[–] too_high_for_this@lemmy.world 9 points 22 hours ago

Handbook for the Recently Deceased

[–] Bonus@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Best place to hide their weed.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

the Fargrant Lharmãcy

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

No matter how you feel about your child, its important to check

[–] Hairyfishnuts@sh.itjust.works 4 points 23 hours ago

If you bought it you already know the answer.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 1 points 20 hours ago

Your child is neurodivergent, and so are you.