BAD Reads
Another Rant About the Joys of Being A Children's Librarian
I love it, but there are some things, some days:
Things like having two moms talk in a steady undertone while you're doing a story hour for their kids preschool. Or another mother distracting the kids by taking pictures while you're trying to tell stories. And the added irritation of recognizing nearly all the kids in the group as kids who you regularly saw at programs when they were toddlers. But now that they are in preschool they never come in--even for books!
Nannies who arrive at programs 15 minutes after they start. Nannies who sit like lumps on the floor and don't interact with their kids, not even trying to do anything when they run amok. Nannies who insist that little Nat play "Ring Around the Rosie" even though she HATES "Ring Around the Rosie" and bursts into tears every time.
Parents-- who demand toddler programs because their children NEED these activities, then sit there like damn lumps and don't even just sing along. Hey, ladies, I'm the one up there with a baby doll in my lap. You've got your own living, breathing ADORABLE kid on your lap--PARTICIPATE!
Parents and/or nannies who insist on bringing little Sophia to the program for 3-5 year olds without parents, even though she's barely 3 and not interested in being without her parent/nanny, and runs in and out of the program, or rolls on the floor, or cries. Parents/nannies who don't take their crying 2 year old out of the room, even though Max is setting off all the other little 2 year olds and interrupting the program!
Parents who insist on bringing (or make the nannies bring) clearly disinterested kids to the programs, rather than taking them to the playground, or just arranging a playdate with some other kid. You know, you can just hang out at each other's houses. There's no "no coffee" rule, you can feed your kids the animal crackers you're not supposed to bring in here, and the kids can run amok.
And if you've got a nanny, and can't trust her to entertain your kids WITHOUT 15 million outside things, how good a nanny do you have? Please don't counter with that "stimulation" bit. I had 2 kids in home day care houses, they never went to programs and somehow their brains developed quite nicely. Sometimes TOO well, I think at times....
Or is it just that you think it's fine for your kids to run up and down the aisles amidst the metal shelves, throw the toys on the floor and scream at the library, but it's not behavior you tolerate at your own house?
Look, I WANT you to come to my programs. I love your kids--they're wonderful when they're into what I am doing. I love interacting with the babies, watching the toddlers grow and playing with the 3 year olds without you. The 3s did get crazy today, but I just took advantage of it and when I did "The Turnip" THEY got to be the little turnips and I "pulled" them out of the ground. And then they had fun acting out the story. And they were great at the craft afterwards.
I like talking to all of you--after the program that is. I get what you're going through--I'm a mom too, you know--and I'm always glad to offer support. I thrill to it when you tell me that Mother Goose rhyme was a big help when your kid was about to meltdown on an airplane. It makes me feel good when you say "she's been talking about your program all morning!" And I love, love, love it when your kids climb in my lap, or give me a hug, or blow me a bye-bye kiss.
But teach them libraries are places for walking, not running. "Help" them put the stuffed animals away and put the books on a table. Leave the food at home. Please come on time for programs, and if they're not in the mood for a program, DON'T BRING THEM! I want them to have fun when they're here. I certainly do.
Borrow some books. Ask us for help--we know where the good stuff is because we buy it, and we READ it.
And please, please, please would someone tell poor Nat's nanny to leave her be? She really HATES "Ring Around the Rosie"?
