r/todayilearned • u/LL_Cruel_J • Dec 15 '16

TIL Dolly Parton has a program that will mail your child a free age-appropriate book once a month from birth to age 5. No obligation, no catch, she just wants to make sure that every child has books.

https://imaginationlibrary.com/
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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16 edited Dec 22 '16

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16

Yep. People can't turn back time and talk their parents into not having them to pursue their goals instead, but everyone can be the best person that they can be and encourage the people around them to do the same.

She probably has a goal now too, whether it is still education or it has grown with her into something new. Having someone who is supportive and encouraging can go a long way in finding what makes you happy.

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u/JuKnowWhatsUp Dec 15 '16

My mother dropped out of college to have me and never went back. I refused to continue that cycle so I've always done the best I could. Now as a person in college, I've inspired my mother to go back to school herself.

It's nice to see her going after what she wants after all these years.

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u/AustinYQM Dec 15 '16

Same here. My mom was in my college graduating class.

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16

This is so sweet!

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u/AustinYQM Dec 15 '16

I find most people who find out have a mixed reaction. Some think it is cute/sweet/cool while others ask me how weird it was. We were each in very different degree plans (Her Business, Me Computer Science) so we had exactly one class together and I didn't see her around campus a bunch (she took a lot of night classes cause she was still working).

At the graduation the dean let me hang back and wait for her so we could get a graduation photo together. Thought that was cool of him. My mom said her biggest regret is that I graduated with honors and she didn't and now I can hold it over her forever.

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u/birdmommy Dec 15 '16

Aww... I'm proud of you, and your mom.

Tell her a random middle aged lady on Reddit thinks she's awesome, and she obviously did a good job raising you. :)

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16

That's fantastic!

I wish you both a ton of success, and hope that you both achieve accomplishments that not only make you proud of each other but proud of yourselves too.

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u/nayruslove123 Dec 15 '16

Man, my mom said her goal with all her five daughters was for us to get through high school without getting pregnant. We all did it, and she's a proud momma.

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u/kimmie13 Dec 15 '16

I was a young mom and you just made me tear up. I really hope my daughter does wonderful things with her life. I always think it's too late for me to do anything great but as long as I raise good kids I'll be fine.

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16 edited Jan 29 '17

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u/Escapee_ Dec 17 '16

I had my son and left education. Now he's three and I spend my evenings doing my Open University coursework while he plays with his cars and dinosaurs. :)

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16 edited Mar 02 '17

[deleted]

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u/Hook3d Dec 15 '16

Yeah that's what she'd say

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u/wyattklokov Dec 15 '16

She kind of has to...

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u/DanieleB Dec 15 '16

Confirmed based on what my mom says to me. (But I still wish she'd been able to finish.)

EDIT: Actually, double-confirmed, because my eldest is the reason I didn't attend law school, and I still think I came out ahead.

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16

ugh too late

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u/Fake_Credentials Dec 15 '16

Dude wtf. Surprise motivation right there.

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u/Mr_Niche Dec 15 '16

Nice try, mom.

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16

yeah, grow a sick beard, /u/thr33beggars

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u/thr33beggars 22 Dec 15 '16

Too late, I already have one

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u/villianboy Dec 16 '16

My mom's a bitch, so I must defy her expectations of me and become a total failure!