After the last fiasco, we haven't been back to story time at the library. But this morning we went to a story time I had signed us up for at this nearby church. They have an indoor playground and the kids got to play and do a craft and listen to stories. We didn't go the first week because she was sick. We didn't go last week because I was at that all day market research thing last Wednesday. So today was the first time.
Well, suffice it to say we won't be going back.....
She was WAY too young, even though it said for ages 1-5. Most of the kids were about 4, it looked like. Of course she wouldn't sit still for the stories. She just wanted to run around, touch other kids, and jump up and down making noises. The playing part was fine. The craft part was disasterous--they did leaf rubbings with crayons. She just wanted to hold all of the crayons and drop them and pick them up, drop them and pick them up, run over to someone else's stash of crayons and do the same thing... I expected her to put the leaves in her mouth like she tries to do at home....thankfully she didn't go that far. We ended up leaving before it was over, though, because I just felt like she was such a tornado in this otherwise orderly storytime. They were about to do another craft with clay, and that looked like a disaster waiting to happen for us. They have a waiting list of people wanting to be in it so I told the lady to go ahead and ask someone else to come the rest of the times because she was clearly too young. The lady was very nice, but readily agreed with me!! (She said, "But I'm glad you tried it!") I was so embarassed. I know I can't let my daughter's behavior be a reflection of me, but I can't help but feel that way. And when she doesn't behave well I feel like it's my fault and I've not done a good job of teaching her. But then I remind myself that she's 18 months old and behaved just as most 18 month olds would. And she hasn't been in those types of settings--how can I expect her to sit still and listen to a story when she's never done it before and her attention span is nowhere near what a 4 year old's is? My expectations are unrealistic. I can tell myself all of these things, but it still felt like everyone was looking at me thinking, "Can't that mother control her child?" and "what is she doing here with such a young and noisy little girl?"
We went to the mall after that (partially to cheer myself up!) because I had something to return and a coupon for a free chik-fil-a sandwich. So I made the return, went looking for some mittens for my little one (I'm having a horrible time finding lavendar mittens to match her winter coat and that fit her!!) and then we went to the food court for lunch. I got her a kids meal of 4 nuggets and milk--it was her first ever kids meal. She ate two of the nuggets, a couple fries and drank the milk. She liked looking all around and playing with the straw and the board book that came with the kids meal. After that she got to play in the play area for a little bit until she spit up her milk on one of the animals, right in front of a set of 9 month old twins! I had the mother of the twins watch the spot so no one got into it, in order to go get a wet one to go wipe it off and then I figured she probably shouldn't play any more, in case it happened again, so we came home.
Whew! What a morning. Sometimes I wonder why I venture out....
3 comments:
I really don't think you should feel bad at all. It just sounds like that's a program for older children, and I don't know any 18 month old (definitely not mine) who would've been able to behave like the 4 year olds. But I understand, I would've been embarrassed too, just because you feel like you're the only one. Really it's their fault for mis-advertising.
Ohhh, I hate days like that. Just like you said... 'why did I even venture out'.
Don't feel bad, all moms have those days and we all understand ;)
I tried to meet a friend (she didn't have her kids) at panera for lunch yesterday... andrew cried the whole time and audrey actually ate fast, was done early, and wouldn't let me have an adult conversation. I got home exhausted and wondered why I try sometimes!
If you take her again, she might do better? Get used to the setting, the flow of things, etc.? Only if you feel up to the challenge though!
Oh, Wendy, don't feel bad for another second! Rachel's behavior was entirely appropriate for an 18 month old. Really, the story time shouldn't be advertized for children as young as 1 if those are the activities. It really sounds much more like a preschool storytime for 3-5 year olds, and they need to change the age range. Rachel is a wonderful, active, lively 18 month old, and you don't need to feel bad about that at all.
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