I've done another good deed for the next generation. I introduced my daughter's not-yet-four -year-old to the public library. A few weeks ago, circumstances made it necessary for her to accompany me to a writers group meeting
Hailey had one question. "Are there toys?"
The meeting was in a room just off the children's section, so it was easy for me to keep an ear and an eye on her.
At first she just sat in a chair with her hands folded in her lap. I came out and showed her the toys, and told her she could play. She said "Okay, Mammaw," and folded her hands and sat in her little chair.
Fortunately there was another little girl at the library with her daddy. The other little girl brought Hailey puzzles and puppets, and got paper from the librarian so Hailey could write with the crayons. The daddy got her to play in the castle. (I really had to keep an eye when he got involved, although I knew he was probably harmless. These days, probably just isn't good enough. Sad fact.)
They left, and Hailey worked kid sized wooden puzzles, one after the other after the other. She had them stacked neatly on the table, and the stack was nearly as high as her head.
We left early -- watching the kid and attending the meeting was a little more difficult and disruptive than I had expected.
Today, my daughter came by, and she asked me what happened when I took Hailey to writers group with me. It seems that now, every time they go to town, Hailey hollers out, "There's the berry, Mom. Are we going to the berry? I want to go to the berry."
So, another generation introduced to the magic of the public library.
Now, we just have to keep the libraries open for them.
Hailey had one question. "Are there toys?"
The meeting was in a room just off the children's section, so it was easy for me to keep an ear and an eye on her.
At first she just sat in a chair with her hands folded in her lap. I came out and showed her the toys, and told her she could play. She said "Okay, Mammaw," and folded her hands and sat in her little chair.
Fortunately there was another little girl at the library with her daddy. The other little girl brought Hailey puzzles and puppets, and got paper from the librarian so Hailey could write with the crayons. The daddy got her to play in the castle. (I really had to keep an eye when he got involved, although I knew he was probably harmless. These days, probably just isn't good enough. Sad fact.)
They left, and Hailey worked kid sized wooden puzzles, one after the other after the other. She had them stacked neatly on the table, and the stack was nearly as high as her head.
We left early -- watching the kid and attending the meeting was a little more difficult and disruptive than I had expected.
Today, my daughter came by, and she asked me what happened when I took Hailey to writers group with me. It seems that now, every time they go to town, Hailey hollers out, "There's the berry, Mom. Are we going to the berry? I want to go to the berry."
So, another generation introduced to the magic of the public library.
Now, we just have to keep the libraries open for them.
