One of the best parts about summer is that us working moms get to delve into the lives of the stay-at-home moms by doing things like going on play dates in the middle of the day, spending long mornings at the city pool, and going to story time at the public library. This activity apparently happens every week at the library, but those of us who work would never know it because our kids get read to at day care, therefore don't really need to be read to at the library. I guess that's why. I don't know.
Either way, they have this story time for a hefty thirty minute segment of time in the mid morning twice a week (wow - thirty whole minutes. this reminds me of Caddyshack when the staff pool time was for 15 minutes one afternoon a summer). One day is for pre-schoolers, which my observations lead me to believe that this includes children from infancy to about 7 years old, and another day is for toddlers, which also includes children from infancy to about 7 years old. I guess since kids don't carry picture ID's, there's no way to check them at the door to see if they meet the age requirements.
We have attended the toddler day, which basically consisted of a soft spoken lady reading a picture book to a room full of babies who could honestly give a cuss about the book being read to them. Because they're babies. The room was littered with strollers and toddlers wandering around aimlessly and being chased by their embarrassed mothers who are attempting to run after their children while crouching down so they don't obscure anyone's view of the book. Which is funny because no one is looking at the book. When I took Jacks to this story time, he made it about 10 minutes before he asked if he could go out and read a book for real.
So, we managed to make it to a pre-school story time this morning, and the set up was much more subdued and organized. There were still babies there, but most were younger siblings of the age appropriate children. But today, the kids got a "treat." The regular story teller was apparently on vacation or maternity leave or sick or at an appointment or taking a mental health day, or something, and a professional musician/story teller was filling in. All I retained was that her name was Melinda, and she appeared to be a musician who believed she was destined for country music fame, but was okay with this whole entertaining kids thing for now. She played acoustic guitar, sang familiar songs that some kids knew, involved the kids with the songs with movements and responses, and she read a few pop up books. She was very good, but she kept referring to her new CD that she just released. Explaining a new CD dropping to a room full of toddlers is like having a Twitter seminar at an assisted living facility. Lots of crickets and mouths agape with no twinge of recognition of the topic of conversation.
She explained to the kids that she sent out several copies of one of her songs to over 700 radio stations, and for everyone to keep their fingers crossed that something good happens. Jacks, along with the rest of the kids, clearly had no idea what one earth she meant by that, but he did spend the next five minutes trying to make his fingers cross. Kind of like when he tries to practice winking, whistling, snapping, and making pop noises with his mouth.
Jacks did much better at this story telling session, and he actually showed interest and sang along a little. He flat refused to get up and perform motions or move closer to the book when it was asked of him, but he still seemed pretty interested in the songs and stories and his toy Spiderman that he had smuggled in hidden in the palm of his hand. He made it the next to last song before he decided it was time to go and "buy" a book. He still doesn't understand that we just borrow books from the library. We made a selection of a book that he was familiar with from school, and we checked it out and headed home.
Outside the library was a man with the Blood Drive trying to drum up blood collecting business, and Jacks profusely thanked him for his book about the bear. Thankfully, the blood drive fella was a sport and played along by telling Jacks he was most welcome.
Good times, good times. I think I might attempt to take Nealy to the super disorganized toddler time tomorrow. Maybe she'll appreciate it better than her brother did.
Either way, they have this story time for a hefty thirty minute segment of time in the mid morning twice a week (wow - thirty whole minutes. this reminds me of Caddyshack when the staff pool time was for 15 minutes one afternoon a summer). One day is for pre-schoolers, which my observations lead me to believe that this includes children from infancy to about 7 years old, and another day is for toddlers, which also includes children from infancy to about 7 years old. I guess since kids don't carry picture ID's, there's no way to check them at the door to see if they meet the age requirements.
We have attended the toddler day, which basically consisted of a soft spoken lady reading a picture book to a room full of babies who could honestly give a cuss about the book being read to them. Because they're babies. The room was littered with strollers and toddlers wandering around aimlessly and being chased by their embarrassed mothers who are attempting to run after their children while crouching down so they don't obscure anyone's view of the book. Which is funny because no one is looking at the book. When I took Jacks to this story time, he made it about 10 minutes before he asked if he could go out and read a book for real.
So, we managed to make it to a pre-school story time this morning, and the set up was much more subdued and organized. There were still babies there, but most were younger siblings of the age appropriate children. But today, the kids got a "treat." The regular story teller was apparently on vacation or maternity leave or sick or at an appointment or taking a mental health day, or something, and a professional musician/story teller was filling in. All I retained was that her name was Melinda, and she appeared to be a musician who believed she was destined for country music fame, but was okay with this whole entertaining kids thing for now. She played acoustic guitar, sang familiar songs that some kids knew, involved the kids with the songs with movements and responses, and she read a few pop up books. She was very good, but she kept referring to her new CD that she just released. Explaining a new CD dropping to a room full of toddlers is like having a Twitter seminar at an assisted living facility. Lots of crickets and mouths agape with no twinge of recognition of the topic of conversation.
She explained to the kids that she sent out several copies of one of her songs to over 700 radio stations, and for everyone to keep their fingers crossed that something good happens. Jacks, along with the rest of the kids, clearly had no idea what one earth she meant by that, but he did spend the next five minutes trying to make his fingers cross. Kind of like when he tries to practice winking, whistling, snapping, and making pop noises with his mouth.
Jacks did much better at this story telling session, and he actually showed interest and sang along a little. He flat refused to get up and perform motions or move closer to the book when it was asked of him, but he still seemed pretty interested in the songs and stories and his toy Spiderman that he had smuggled in hidden in the palm of his hand. He made it the next to last song before he decided it was time to go and "buy" a book. He still doesn't understand that we just borrow books from the library. We made a selection of a book that he was familiar with from school, and we checked it out and headed home.
Outside the library was a man with the Blood Drive trying to drum up blood collecting business, and Jacks profusely thanked him for his book about the bear. Thankfully, the blood drive fella was a sport and played along by telling Jacks he was most welcome.
Good times, good times. I think I might attempt to take Nealy to the super disorganized toddler time tomorrow. Maybe she'll appreciate it better than her brother did.
4 comments:
it's official -- i can't handle the story time on thursdays! too much chaos. i thought today was hilariously entertaining!!!
You should just come to our house and have a playdate. It would be fun to catch up while the kids go crazy with water and toys in the backyard.
Haha! My mom used to take me to those when she was still a stay at home mom. I don't actually remember going, but apparently I loved it since she took me back every week. Hearing this story makes me miss you tremendously. I love you!
Look into having an adult story time, where some interesting lady could sing me 6 months' worth of Vanity fair I can't catch up on. (up on which I can not catch...)
Post a Comment