READ!

March is National Children's Book Month.

Before march blows away, I thought I would share a tribute to one of our favorite places- the public library. It is one of the first places we seek out after moving to a new place. It is a great source for free entertainment including books, magazines, movies, CDs, story times, shows, and other community events. We have seen everything- magicians and circus clowns, children's theatre groups and visiting illustrators, Nutcracker ballerinas and Disney Ice Princesses, folk singers and orchestras, even Santa Claus at the library over the years. I think it has played a big part in my children learning to love books and reading in general and helped them both learn to read before starting school. We love the summer reading program, the used book sales, and the preschool and toddler story times.

In the 8 years we have been going to libraries all over the country, I have yet to take a picture of my children behind their stacks of books or pushing a stroller weighted down with 30 picture books while the toddler walked behind. So I grabbed my camera this time and tried to get a few shots of our favorite spot before the kids got antsy and started running around like maniacs and trying to escape to the playground outside. I usually get about 40 minutes, sometimes closer to an hour if the baby is in a good mood. Other times, less. So, here you go, a trip to the library in pictures:

First stop- book return. Kids love dropping in the videos and books one at a time and hearing them clang into the bin below. The most legal noise you can make at the library.

Next, the grand entry. Sometimes I wish it had a gate, to keep kids from escaping. Sometimes I think the alarms and sensors at the exit are to warn parents of children running out with their favorite videos in hand as well as to keep materials from being taken home without being checked out. The display shelves make great cubby hiding spots for mischievous toddlers. Not that I would know anything about that *ahem* moving on...

The left wall is lined with four little reading rooms, or club houses, or book nooks, or nap corners, depending on who you ask. Perfect for catching a quick nap, reading a book aloud without being disruptive, sharing secrets with a friend, or administering a time-out lecture in private. Hey, you use the resources available to you!

The rest of the left side is covered in floor to ceiling windows, in fact other than the brick front wall, the library walls are made up of windows. Scattered about the room in between tables and couches are toddler toys and books. Rebecca really enjoys these beads.

*Insert picture of Rebecca playing with bead toy by the window, that Blogger keeps eating*

Andrew is just getting to where he likes to choose his own books. His current favorite: Fly Guy! Six entire shelves of easy readers. That's after you pass the 20 rows of picture books.

My oldest loves the "in-between" section of advanced readers and nonfiction books that are perfect for kids not ready for the thick chapter books but are beyond picture books and phonic readers. Lenna's favorite present from her 4th birthday- a book bag and library card of her very own. Our current limit- if you can carry it, you can check it out. And she will.

There is also a table with some puzzles and little activity boards for youngsters to play with while their older siblings pick out books. This is a great way to keep them from pulling all the books off the shelves instead. If they are of the more dramatic sort, they can perform or watch a puppet show at this mini theater.

Almost time to go. Sometimes we will choose a magazine like Zoo Books and sit and read on the cute little couches. Other times we will do a preview read. We try to put the books we choose through a preview before we go to the trouble of taking them home. We sit at a table and flip through the books we picked, plus the ones mom picked, and a few that no one knows how they got in the pile but there they are- and divide into two piles. Keep, and maybe next time. Once you have chosen all you can carry, we head over to the video shelf and the check out line. Notice the stroller in the background now full of books, not baby. Such is life. If she tries to take off with that Elmo DVD, the alarm will sound and someone will cut her off.

*Insert picture of Andrew sorting books at table in front of book-laden stroller while Becca runs away, that blogger keeps eating*

I hear that down stairs in the library is a great reference section as well as books without pictures. But the heavy silence keeps us away so we have yet to have any adventures down there, except the few times the call of the open stairway was just too strong for little feet. The disapproving looks we got from all the "adults" down there were sufficient to keep us out for at least a few more years. Someday I am going to sit in one of those comfy chairs by the window and sit and read uninterrupted for hours. I will look out the window and see the children playing on the grass and feel sad that mine aren't here with me and go back up to the children's section instead.

Have you been to the library lately?

Old McDonald had a Farm

"They're Here!" I wonder what the animals were thinking about now.

I am pretending to like this dog because the girl next to me does. But I am shaking in my boots.

The strangest duck I have ever seen.

They were supposed to hold the carrot through the fence for the animals. Andrew had his own method- hold it up and throw it as far into the pasture as you can!

No way I am sticking my fingers that close to those teeth.

The three musketeers. All for one and trouble for all.

Poor Tom. Easter weekend was not a good time for him.

Goats have no sense of personal space.

Hurry up mom, I'm running away if that thing gets any closer.

The goats are full of the carrots from our lunch. What should we do with all this hay?

Hay fight!

I'd rather ride a pony.

I had to put this collage in here. How many tries does it take to get a good class picture in front of the cute little barn? Apparently, more than 7, but then they scatter when the goats attack.

Pass the soap!

After an exciting game of U7 soccer that involved lots of sliding around in mud puddles, I informed Andy that he was to report to the shower as soon as we arrived home, since he only had about an hour before he had to go to bed. He looked at me over his juice box and very seriously replied, "If I only have one hour before I have to go to bed, I am not spending ANY of it in the bath tub!"

I am assuming that it only gets harder when he gets too big for me to physically place him in the hot water.

Ok, Nevermind

Too much trouble with all that privatization stuff.
I found another solution that I feel better about. A stat counter and partial feeds. Now anyone can look, but we don't show up in the search engines. And a stat counter carefully records the Ip address and location of each visitor, so I can be on the lookout for wierdos and stalkers. The partial feed means that you must come to the blog to see the whole post, so even those annonymous google readers will have to pop over to read (and be recorded by the stat counter).
Compromise is good. Having to list the emails and invite every single friend you think might want to read is bad. We'll see how this works out.

Enabling

Hello, my name is Jannet, and I am an enabler and a codependent.

I know the behavior is destructive. I know that I am enforcing habits that will only lead to addiction, obsession, dependency, anger, tantrums, public outbursts, and unreasonable demands placed on me and our family and even the general public. And I do it anyway.

I give in because it is easier. Because it is faster. Because I am tired of resisting. Because sometimes, it just isn't worth the fight. Because my will is weaker. Because sometimes I can turn it to my advantage. Because in the short term, it really won't make a difference. Because I forget that often "just this one time" turns to "just one more time" and then "every time." Because I can be manipulated by the look in those big blue eyes, by unspoken promises of restitution, and by offers and rewards of physical affection.

My name is Jannet, and I am an enabler and a co-dependent of an addict.

Our mind and behavior altering drug:
Elmo.

Rebecca loves Elmo. In fact, one of the fist words she could clearly pronounce was Elmo. After just one or two viewings, she was hooked. Now, Elmo permeates every aspect of our lives. Socks she insists on wearing? Elmo. New bib she won't take off? Elmo. New sippy cup? Elmo. Her favorite cup, bowl, and plate? Elmo. Her favorite show? Elmo. What she chants every time anyone turns on a television? Elmo. Her favorite board books? Elmo. Her favorite toy train? Elmo.

I admit it, I am at fault. Because all of those things were provided by me. And sometimes I take advantage of her obsession. How do I get her to sit still through a shopping trip? A stop by the bargain bin for an Elmo book to read in the cart or the toy aisle to grab an Elmo cell phone. To my credit, they always go back before the check out line. How to get her to drink milk? Put it in an Elmo cup. Elmo cup dirty? Put Elmo stickers all over the plain one. Coloring book to keep her busy in the play yard during soccer practice? Elmo. Mom needs a shower before nap time? Elmo on demand. Need something to hold during the library trip so mom can check out books? Grab an Elmo DVD.

I admit, at first I thought it was cute. "Oh look, she knows Elmo." So I innocently started pointing out the red furry puppet as we encountered his image in stores or on TV. "Look Becca, Elmo!" I started putting her food on the Sesame Street dishes we have had since Lenna was a baby, encouraging her to eat all the applesauce to uncover the Elmo face at the bottom of the bowl. Then I fished out the old Elmo books that had been in storage since Andy was little. And I got her another one for Valentines Day. Then I saw some Elmo socks for a dollar in Target and grabbed a pair. Then a week later I went back and got two more pairs because she refused to keep on any others. And when it was time for a big girl cup, I grabbed the ones with the Elmo pictures. And now, well I can admit it is getting to be a little much.

For example, when I was trying to buy a baby gift and she screamed and kicked until she could hold the Elmo blanket. Then she wanted to hold all the Elmo blankets on the shelf. And protested very, very loudly when we had to put them back. Or when we were looking for doll clothes and hotwheels for the Easter bunny, and she heard the Elmo song from the next row, and took off like a crazy person to find "Elmo, Elmo,Elmo!" then refused to leave until she had hugged every giggling, singing, plastic head. And screamed and kicked when we had to leave them all behind.

So at what point do I stop indulging her toddler obsessive phase? I know every kid has several and it is normal. Lenna cycled through Pooh, Ernie, Wiggles, and Princesses. While Andy did Thomas, Cars, Diego, and Super Heroes and they seem to have came out OK. But how many times can you listen to the Elmo's World song before you go insane? And at what point does it cross over from normal phase to crazy toddler addiction?

And am I ready to give up the morning shower and Elmo's World segment yet? Is it really bad that she insists on wearing rainbow-striped Elmo socks with every outfit, if it means her feet are warm and she is happy? And if she will eat peas for the sole purpose of finding Elmo at the bottom of the bowl, isn't that better than throwing the peas in the plain bowl on the floor? Is there any harm in her favorite accessory being an Elmo bib? And what is wrong with learning your colors and shapes from a puppet in a book?

And finally, can anyone figure out a way I can turn her obsession into a tool to get her to sleep through the night, sit through church, go to the Y nursery, or use the potty? Thanks!

Going Private

Finally figured out my place in the blogger world. I am not going to have 500 random followers. I am not going to make cyber best friends or join a group of strangers to form some sort of community. I am just as shy and reserved in cyber space as I am in person, I guess. I don't leave comments on the blogs of people I don't know or expect them to leave one on mine. In fact, I always get a little uneasy when someone I don't know starts leaving comments on my stuff. I thought I wanted to make it available for the world to admire, but I have discovered that I really don't.

I am just writing for me, my extended family, and a handful of friends who for some reason keep coming back to read. The people I care about read regularly, and many get posts automatically thru email. So if you are a mystery follower and want to keep reading, please leave a comment or email me or facebook msg me or whatever and let me know what email address you want me to send an invite to. I noticed there are about a dozen google reader subscribers, and I can't name a dozen people who I thought read this so that was interesting and I am curious to see if that many people ask for an invite. I think knowing that I am making a stronger effort to keep out the weirdos will leave me a little more freedom in my postings. And maybe I will actually update more often (maybe).

You have a week then the settings are going to private!

Camp Mom SOS (Save our Summer)

I have been batting this idea around for a while and wanted to get a few ideas down before they drowned in the chaos.
I was thinking about fun ways to spend the summer with my kids. They are so curious and active that hanging out at home all day will not be an option past the first week. And it gets so hot here that even running out in the backyard becomes impossible after 10AM. And of course we have to work around nap times and fire time- the period between 2 and 5PM when it is too hot to drive, go outside, cook, or wear shoes.
I want our summer to be a vacation from the structure and busy-ness of the school year. I want my kids to play with each other and with friends they haven't seen since last summer. I want them to have time to do craft projects, read library books, ride bikes, play in the sprinkler, eat popsicles, and look at bugs. I want them to learn to swim, eat picnic dinners by the pool, sleep outside, and catch fireflies.
I don't want them to learn to play video games, watch countless hours of tv, or have their brains turn to mush and undo all the learning they have done so far this year. I don't want to hear "I'm bored" or have tedium turn to squabbles and mischief. I don't want sunburned shoulders or dehydration or over heated kids from trying to go outside and play. I don't want to be a social secretary arranging endless play dates or educational field trips. I don't want to spend tons of money to entertain everyone.
I don't want to wake up on August 1st and wonder where the summer went and have nothing to show for it. Mostly, I don't want to be one of those moms who counts down the days until school starts and is going nuts by June and can't stand one more minute of together time, only to regret it after the first week of school when I realize by children are away from me for 8 hrs a day and all those opportunities are lost. I really want to enjoy my children, have fun together, and have some new experiences.
So- what to do?
Some free local stuff- library story time and splash park. Free kids movies (when they are not trash movies). Reed Creek park nature walks. Clarks Hill Lake picnic and swimming. YMCA pool and swimming lessons and play room.
Some "go once or twice because you have to pay" places- Jump places, summer movies, drive in theater, fort discovery, Columbia zoo, children's museum in Columbia, stables on base, strawberry farm.
Day or overnight trips- Atlanta aquarium, Olympic park, m&m world, kids museum, stone mountain, 6 flags, myrtle beach, Savannah/tybee island, Hilton head, Charleston, ??
Big trips- week in Tenn to Great Smoky Mountains for family reunion. Long weekend at the beach. Road trip to MD/DC?
Things to do/experiences: make freezer strawberry jam, make a peach pie, have a camp out, learn to swim, read a whole new series of books out loud, read the Book of Mormon as a family, have a cousin pen pal club?, learn something new, play in the rain, keep a summer journal/scrapbook, grow a window garden (ants, slugs, squirrels, etc will eat it outside).
Day camp: usually I let Lenna and Andy now that he is old enough, choose a week-long day camp to attend. They have so many choices here- everything from the traditional day in the woods with canoes and swimming, dance, art, drama, sports, science, math, sewing, cooking, etc. A part of me feels like they deserve the opportunity to learn something new, and honestly, a whole week with one child at a time would be great! But the cost is unreasonable for two kids who don't need the day care.
I thought about a camp mom- a weekly theme to plan activities around for our family. Crafts, snacks, books, movies, trips, etc all based around a theme like outer space or sports or Australia. Or maybe mini home day camps to learn a new skill like cooking or sewing or nature camp. then I thought about inviting some friends to participate as well. Then thought about using a mom swap approach- get together a group of about 10 kids and rotate houses each day a for a week, maybe two or three times during the summer. One day of chaos that I am in charge of entertaining the group with something fun like water games, crafts, cooking, stories, etc, in exchange for four days of silence and mom time, or at least kid-free grocery shopping, while the other moms take their turn. Seems do-able right? Maybe?
What do you think? What is your survival plan for the summer? What are your favorite summer time activities? Want to join a kid swap?

Note to future self

Some little gems of knowledge I would like to remember, so I am posting them here for future reference.

* If you drop a frozen pie crust when it is still very frozen, it will shatter into a million pieces.

* Do not buy Easter candy (or any holiday candy, for that matter) a month early "to have it done and over with". No matter how well it is hidden, you will not be able to resist the temptation to eat it yourself, and will have to go out and buy more at the last minute.

*Naked toddlers pee on things. No matter how much they struggle and protest, it "is" worth the fight to get that diaper on.

*Say no to the nice man at the YMCA who asks you to help out with your son's soccer team. You will most likely be the only volunteer and be promoted to head coach instead of team mom and snack coordinator.

*There is something hilariously disturbing in listening to 5 and 6 year old boys "talking smack" at each other over the goal line. Especially if they have no idea what they are saying.

*Don't bench your son, he will be "mad at you forever and ever". Don't play your kid more than everyone else so that he won't hate you- all the other parents will think you are playing favorites.

*Remind self that having 8 year old in ballet, soccer, and activity day girls with a 5 year old in soccer isn't so bad and is completely do-able. Unless they are all scheduled on Tuesday night. Then you will be sorry. And hungry. And always out of gas.

*Sunscreen, even if it is 35 outside when you leave in the morning. 4 hours later, you will be pink!

*If you see a pair of Elmo socks in the Target buy 4000 pairs. Because one will always get lost in the wash, and your daughter will wander the halls with one sock on looking fruitlessly for the other one calling "Elmo! Elmo! Elmo!" Until you both have a headache.

*Buy stock in antihistamines and Kleenex. Allergy season has arrived. In February.

*"Yoga-laties" is code word for "your stomach muscles will never forgive you." Don't be fooled by the word "beginner" in the class title. It just means you have to hold each pose longer while the teacher moves each person into position.

*Family-wide Sunday afternoon naps are wonderful and now mandatory for everyone. Even if mom is the only one who sleeps while the others play behind closed doors.

* Someday you will catch up the blog. Until then, take comfort in the fact that your loyal readers are waiting on the edge of their seats with baited breathe, eagerly anticipating your next delivery of witty and intelligent prose. Or, maybe they gave up following months ago and don't care what you write. Either way, it will all be ok in the end.