Storytime Boringtime...
I sprang out of bed this morning and didn't even think twice about my morning nap...
Why? Because I finally remembered to take Gunnar to Storytime at our local Chicago Library Branch...(which is located conveniently right across the street!) I was soooo excited! So as soon as Gunnar woke up for the day at 9:30...I got him fed, changed, dressed and we were out the door! I didn't even have to bring the diaper bag because it was only 45 minutes and I figured if I needed anything we would just leave.
As soon as we got there...I wanted to leave. I don't know what it is about seeing unorganized chaos with a bunch of screaming toddlers doing everything but what their parents want them to do...but lately it makes me want to rip my hair out! All I can do is focus on these poor parents chasing their kids everywhere and think...that's going to be me...soon (yikes). I hate feeling this way. I love kids. I LOVE TODDLERS...so why do I feel this way when there are so many toddlers in one room? You'd think I'd be in Baby Heaven...far from it. But maybe it isn't the kids fault...the story time wasn't what I expected. I don't know why I expected all of the children to be sitting on mats with their hands in their laps quietly listening to stories. Most of these children were between the ages of 1 and 2...and frankly they don't have the attention span for that yet. But even still...it really wasn't organized well. And it didn't help that the woman running the storytime had a VERY thick spanish accent. Even I had trouble understanding what she was saying...
...and then there was the fact that she spent more time saying "you sit down now", "little girl you sit...sit please" than she did reading stories. And when she read there was no expression in her voice...no "storytelling"....monotone...boringtime. Somehow she did manage to get the kids to repeat some of the repetitive phrases in one of the books...which was her only impressive moment. I couldn't help but think...even if I hadn't prepared anything...I could run a far better storytime with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back. Ouch. I know...that's a harsh thing to say...but it's true. So I don't know if we'll be going back anytime soon. Though I did pick up a calendar of future children friendly events and I will give some of the music events a try.
Why? Because I finally remembered to take Gunnar to Storytime at our local Chicago Library Branch...(which is located conveniently right across the street!) I was soooo excited! So as soon as Gunnar woke up for the day at 9:30...I got him fed, changed, dressed and we were out the door! I didn't even have to bring the diaper bag because it was only 45 minutes and I figured if I needed anything we would just leave.
As soon as we got there...I wanted to leave. I don't know what it is about seeing unorganized chaos with a bunch of screaming toddlers doing everything but what their parents want them to do...but lately it makes me want to rip my hair out! All I can do is focus on these poor parents chasing their kids everywhere and think...that's going to be me...soon (yikes). I hate feeling this way. I love kids. I LOVE TODDLERS...so why do I feel this way when there are so many toddlers in one room? You'd think I'd be in Baby Heaven...far from it. But maybe it isn't the kids fault...the story time wasn't what I expected. I don't know why I expected all of the children to be sitting on mats with their hands in their laps quietly listening to stories. Most of these children were between the ages of 1 and 2...and frankly they don't have the attention span for that yet. But even still...it really wasn't organized well. And it didn't help that the woman running the storytime had a VERY thick spanish accent. Even I had trouble understanding what she was saying...
...and then there was the fact that she spent more time saying "you sit down now", "little girl you sit...sit please" than she did reading stories. And when she read there was no expression in her voice...no "storytelling"....monotone...boringtime. Somehow she did manage to get the kids to repeat some of the repetitive phrases in one of the books...which was her only impressive moment. I couldn't help but think...even if I hadn't prepared anything...I could run a far better storytime with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back. Ouch. I know...that's a harsh thing to say...but it's true. So I don't know if we'll be going back anytime soon. Though I did pick up a calendar of future children friendly events and I will give some of the music events a try.
 |
| They did read one of Gunnar's favorites "The Wheels on the Bus" but the words were all different and they didn't SING it...WHAT??? |
Yeah, I would have hated it too...
ReplyDeleteLOL! They seriously read "The Wheels on the Bus"without singing it?! "The wheels on the bus go round and round. Round and round. Round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round. All through the town." Aptly titled blog post, that sounds like the most boring book ever. !!
ReplyDeleteHold on. Gunnar got up at 9:30?
ReplyDeleteOh man...I would have ripped my hair out for sure. What a let-down...
ReplyDelete