Robert McNeesMay 8, 2023
This is probably the best thing I ever posted on Twitter. The memory is pretty dear to me; I'm sharing it here so it still exists somewhere if that place collapses.
Show threadRobert McNeesMay 8, 2023

It still gets shared probably once per month by "wholesome meme" type accounts on IG and Facebook. Each time I get a stream of messages from old friends asking "Is this you?”

I've even seen it shared on here; it's so strange when it racks up hundreds or thousands of reposts for other people. Someone will share a screenshot, maybe add 📚 and 🔦emoji, and then half the replies mistake it for an actual post.

Show threadRobert McNees
The strangest thing is seeing someone else share it, get a bunch of replies, and try to walk this tightrope where they respond without acknowledging that it's someone else's kid.
May 8, 2023 at 4:57pmIvory for Mac
Show threadRobert McNeesMay 8, 2023
I'll add the same comment here that I added when I first shared it on Twitter: The “great dad" replies warm my heart, but my wife was in on it, too. It takes teamwork to run this kind of scam on a savvy kid.
Show threadRobert McNeesMay 8, 2023

In fact, it's sort of a long con initiated by my wife, who was clever enough to spend years writing novels like it's no big deal, leaving the kid to wonder what all the fuss is about.

https://www.kellyoconnormcnees.com

Kelly O'Connor McNees | Home

Kelly O’Connor McNees’s award-winning novels transport readers to pivotal moments in history as seen through the eyes of the resilient, fascinating women who lived through them.

Kelly O'Connor McNees
Show threadRobert McNeesMay 8, 2023

Anyway, she's 11 now. Her bedtime is later, and she knows we don't mind if she stays up reading. She still loves books, but there are lots of things – messaging with friends, Roblox, etc – competing for her attention.

At some point, though, she figured out how to check out books on Libby, and read them on her iPad. She doesn't need our help at all.

It's the weirdest thing. Someone must have installed the app, entered her library card information, and left the icon there on the home screen.

Show threadRobert McNeesMay 21, 2023
Tom Gauld in yesterday’s Guardian Books.
Show threadchicatingMay 21, 2023
@mcnees Love this, even though it's been a while since I've done that.
Anyone here read a book that great lately?
Show threadRitaMay 21, 2023
@mcnees i feel seen
Show threadDaniel Santos May 21, 2023
@mcnees Fantastic. So very much like me. On a side note, Tom Gauld should have a Mastodon profile… :)
Show threadRyk ✌🏻🖖🏽🇨🇦May 22, 2023
@mcnees I often have been and am, guilty of that.
I gradually became more aware of the ‘balance requirements’ between ‘immediate’ and ‘future’ access though. The # of times that the ‘future access’ became of greater value overall is now, mostly. 😊
Show threadJanPVMay 24, 2023
@mcnees Damned right. Reading has kept me sane through the darkest of days, but with the benefit of making bright days better, too!
Show threadEl Vector ⁂ 🐸🐌May 27, 2023
@mcnees « My drawing was not a hat, but a child and his father reading under the bed sheets. »
Show threadCath-in-a-HatJun 17, 2023

@elvector @mcnees

❤️
Was it, by chance, an elephant child and his father?
🐘

Show threadHyde 📷 🖋 Jun 18, 2023
@elvector @mcnees my kid showed me that in a book and it was a snake eating an elephant ...
Show threadNadine FéreyJun 18, 2023
@hyde
Your kid has good reference !
@elvector @mcnees
Show threadWilfried KlaebeAug 31, 2024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Prince, nor?

@NFerey @hyde @elvector @mcnees

The Little Prince - Wikipedia

Show threadPhDog 🇮🇪May 8, 2023

@mcnees

Bizarre...

Poltergeists, definitely poltergeists.

Show threadMichael BuschMay 8, 2023
@mcnees [ makes note for future parenting strategy ]
Show threadDr. Tineke D'HaeseleerMay 8, 2023
@mcnees Gosh. Weird bugs they have on iPads nowadays!
Show threadAffieniaMay 8, 2023
@mcnees this is the greatest follow up. Epic parenting!
Show threadScott SutherlandMay 9, 2023
@mcnees What a crazy random (awesome) happenstance!
Show threadlevampyreMay 10, 2023
@mcnees Magic! (But teach her how to use a computer, too. It's important they become users and not just consumers of their hardware.)
Show threadRobert von Burg  May 10, 2023
@mcnees i sure hope i remember these ideas when my 1yo starts to read ...
Show threadlizzardMay 12, 2023
@mcnees ha! Perfect!
Show threadJean HominalMay 12, 2023
@mcnees That is a great follow-up. Thank you!
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.May 22, 2023
@mcnees Isn't Libby wonderful? And we're in love with "Upstart Crow" on Kamopy, the Libby for video.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.May 22, 2023
@mcnees Sorry - "Kanopy."
Show threadMs. DenieJul 12, 2023
@mcnees okay, I'm logging off. That's all I need from the internet today.
Show threadKirstyApr 5, 2024
@mcnees this is the perfect follow up post. ❤️
Show threadJes Moved to @[email protected]Sep 1, 2024
@mcnees turning your kid into a book nerd is probably one of the best things you can do as a parent yea
My mom used to take me to the library to check out books even though the was up to her waist on busywork and I appreciate her a lot for that.
Show threadWayne WernerMay 8, 2023
@mcnees Was it you or someone else who told their kid that they'd pay them $1/book read, and they were up to something like 350 books that year and the kid was convinced they were ripping their parent off 🙃
Show threadRobert McNeesMay 8, 2023
@ketmorco Not me, but an incredible idea.
Show threadMichael FriedmanMay 9, 2023

@mcnees

“The “great dad" replies warm my heart, but my wife was in on it, too. It takes teamwork to run this kind of scam on a savvy kid.”

That sound was a hearty chuckle.

Show threadJRDMBMay 21, 2023

@mcnees

Beautiful thread! 💛 And please be sure to tell us about the clever scams she pulls over on you parents! 😄

Show threadFrank CoteDec 31, 2023
@mcnees good for you to share the credit.
Show threadChris AbbeySep 2, 2024
@mcnees I saw an epic version of that on Facebook once. A commenter posted something along the lines of “Daughter? Did <poster’s son> finally come out to you?!” And the ensuing reply chain involved a hand full of family members of various generations, a lot of dirty laundry being aired in public, and about two weeks later the poster saying how awesome their first mother/daughter spa day was with a picture post of four hands and four feet with fresh mani-pedi and polish.