I try to take Calan each week to our library story time. While there are specific story times for different age groups, we attend the one for families for children ages 0-5 years old. So there is a wide range of attention spans and behaviors, which I am sure pretty much every parent understands.
Today I wish that I could have told the librarian what I thought of her and her lack of patience and grace. She seemed so harsh and righteous that I was left in awe.
First, I should tell you that Calan behaves very well and sits and stays on the rug and listens for the most part. I have been pretty proud of my little guy. And I should say that we usually have a great experience at story time, but this librarian just rubbed me the wrong way.
When Calan and I walked in, she of course wanted to make sure that I knew that the younger ones can sit in the parents lap. Yup, got it, but my kid is good. Then she wanted to set rules for the parents making sure that we knew our kids were not to pass her "line" and if they were, then we should redirect them. Yup, that is pretty obvious, but thanks for making sure we know.
Those things were fine, but what really got me was when unfortunately one little girl was just not sitting and the mother was trying, but it wasn't completely working. Yes, maybe the mother could have excused themselves earlier, but the little girl was not throwing a tantrum and she wasn't bothering anyone, just not exactly sitting and jabbering a little. At one point the librarian closed the book she was reading and gave the most disapproving glare to the mother, who then left with her daughter. Seriously, you had to make that mother feel embarrassed? Seriously, you couldn't see the mother was trying? Seriously, you showed no grace or understanding!
As a mother, you hope every time you go out that your kid is never THAT kid, but we all know at some point your kid WILL be THAT kid. We look at other mothers with sympathy and grace when it is their turn to deal with an issue because we know we have been there or will be there soon.
I really felt the librarian did not get the age group she was targeting. First she picked books that were way too long and detailed. Most of the kids are 2 or 3 years old. There are one to two older and a few younger, but for the most part it is toddlers. And she felt like she needed to scream read the book. Kids were not interested and looked pretty bored and confused. I wish I could have given her a dirty look for her teaching abilities, but I understand and get that it is a free program and some times it is great and others not so much. I would never condemn you in front of everyone the way you did that poor mother.
I know that I hate been looked at and judged for my parenting. It instantly makes me sweat. Because of that, I really try hard to never give a judging look to another mother. We all want whats best for our kids. We all don't want to be THOSE parents with the problem child. If we somehow had a magic button that makes our kids behave perfectly every time, then we would never have to deal with judgmental librarians.
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