Story Time Now

Lulu and I used to love going to story time. I was more obvious about it than Lulu, but we both liked it. This year they've changed it. Apparently our Mother Goose was doing too much or something because now she only does the one story time for kids 3 to 5 without parents, and other people have taken over the rest. The woman who does the 2's? I'm not sure how to put this. I don't want to say she's terrible because I think that's not quite accurate. But she's not good at it. Maybe she'd be better suited for older children. Maybe not, though.

Here's the thing things:

First - she never tells us her name. We know what her name is because we asked Mother Goose after the first time we had story time with the new lady. We commented to MG that we thought the new lady should tell us her name and MG said she'd mention it to her and maybe she just forgot that time. But she never tells us her name. That's not right.

Also - she doesn't read the whole book to us. She skips pages when she reads. I suppose that might be okay. You know, more time for other things, but I'd like to hear the whole book sometime.

And then - she gets visibly stressed when children don't just sit and listen. I do think that parents should take their kids out when they're being disruptive (shrieking, banging on the door, etc.) because it's disrespectful not to, but most 2 year-olds aren't going to sit quietly by their parents and not wiggle (when they're comfortable in a place), and we wouldn't want to go to a story time where that's what's expected. I don't think she expects that, exactly, but it's obvious that she'd be more comfortable if things went that way. And there have been a couple of times when she said something wouldn't happen (special stuffed animal visitor, hand stamps) unless everyone was sitting down. Sorry. Not going to happen.

I guess in general story time isn't very welcoming anymore.

So I've been letting Lulu choose whether we want to go to story time. We still go to the library every week. We even got Lulu a library card of her own. But as to whether we actually go into the story time room and listen to that woman for ½ hour - that's up to Lulu. And I've been relieved that Lulu chose not to go the last 2 weeks. This week, though, that woman was sick and another librarian (not MG) did it in her stead. So we went in and listened. It was sad, really (not the other librarian - he did fine). That room was packed - overloaded, really - when MG did story time each week, but today there were maybe 5 families. It makes me wonder if the new lady has run everyone else off too...

Peace at Mommy Summer Camp

Right now, the girls are watching Muzzy and learning French. I know you're not supposed to let your 2 year-old watch too much TV, but she's learning French! At least that's what I'm telling myself because they're not fighting or whining or bored. So far, MSC is a bust, but it's only been 2 days and today we printed out our weekly schedule and reviewed the chore list (Lulu's chore is to feed the cat) and next week we'll have library time and craft time and "cooking camp" with Pete's friend(s) and do better at following the schedule and leave "Virtual Villagers" turned off most of the time. So wish us luck!

Flip Flap Jack

I need to ask Mother Goose who sings the version of "Flip Flap Jack" she plays for us at story time sometimes because Lulu really likes it (me too - and Pete) and it'd be fun to get it for Lulu for her birthday. One time we got to story time a little early and ran into Mother Goose and she said, "We've got a lot of fun stuff planned today, stories and songs," and since Lulu had asked about "Flip Flap Jack" that morning, I asked if we were going to sing it, and Mother Goose said, "Well, no... I hadn't planned to... It doesn't really fit with the theme today, and I don't have my flannel board or the music... Sure! Okay! We'll sing that today!!" and she went and got her flannel board for Lulu. I like Mother Goose.

Mother Goose

This week at story time, since it was National Mother Goose day, our special guest storyteller was Mother Goose! Lulu was apprehensive, at first, because Mother Goose looked a lot like our regular story time lady with an enormous bonnet on and a basket with a stuffed goose in it. She seemed to be thinking, "Something's not right," my Lulu. When Mother Goose took off her bonnet because she couldn't see with it on, Lulu relaxed, though, and really started to enjoy herself. Except, here's the thing: Lulu enjoying herself at story time doesn't look like you might expect it to look. She sits perfectly still in my lap, no clapping or singing or "yay!"-ing or smiling. If I try to get her to join in, she tells me no. But afterward, she always thanks Mother Goose and gets her stamp(s) on her hand(s), and then she talks about it and about her little friend (who she doesn't speak to at story time at all) and about Mother Goose (that's what I'm calling the regular story time lady now) for the rest of the week right up until we actually get there. When Moomie took her a couple of weeks ago, she commented that she thought maybe Lulu was uncertain since she was with Moomie and not me because she just sat in Moomie's lap and didn't want to participate, but I told Moomie that was not the case. She always acts like that. Silly Lulu!

But she did have fun! You just wouldn't know it to look at her...