BAD Reads
To The Mothers Who Just Left The Children's Room
Dear Moms:
I know it is freezing cold outside. I know you have active children who need to burn off some of that energy and you would prefer they not do it while messing up your Martha Stewart perfect house. However, it is not appropriate to come into a library and:
1)Allow your child to climb behind the librarian's desk and settle in front of her computer because "he likes the screensaver". And if he does do so, you should remove him, not stand there with him!
2)Encourage your child to run races in the aisle with his friends, heedless of the danger of knocking off books onto their dear little heads (and leaving a mess for the staff to clean up!)
3) Let your child climb up bookcases and other furniture--see item #2
4) Fail to watch where your child is wandering to, places that include an inviting long flight of steps , a dark area near the restrooms, or the front door.
(The steps are pretty obviously dangerous to anyone with half a brain, as should be the front door. If you're wondering about the restrooms, well, let's just say that public libraries are frequented by the homeless, the mentally ill and other types you would not want encountering your adorable little blond toddler)
Moms, you are not teaching your kids appropriate behavior. And we don't blame them for being brats--we blame you for planting the seeds that will one day get you on one of those "Supernanny" shows. And it doesn't have to be that way!!!
We WANT you to come in and use our library. We want you to feel welcome here. But what we really want you to do is come in, read a book or two with your child, select some books to take home, and then GO. Don't use us for a playground--isn't that what the coffee places and bookstores are for?
At least there you BUY something--here you don't even borrow books half the time. SHEESH!!
Respectfully and wearily yours,
The Library Lady
(who doesn't let HER kids behave that way in public and is often told how well mannered they are. No one is going to be telling you that about your kids, at this rate.......)
