That's what I am, at least according to the ladies at the public library.
You know one of these moms don't you? The moms who come in with loud, bratty kids and she is oblivious to the fact that they are running around, screaming their heads off, tearing books off the shelves, etc, etc.
Tuesday after piano lessons we went to the public library to get some graded readers and some supplement books for our history and science lessons. I knew with 5 children I had limited time to get what I wanted and get out before mayhem ensued. I was relieved that there was a little computer set aside for children to play on so I could search for the books I wanted. My 3 youngest boys started to play on that while Zech grabbed his own books and me and Emma shopped for the rest. They argued about who got to play and I quietly told them to knock it off. 10 mins went by and I heard them get loud again so I went over there just as one of the library workers told them they were done and she was turning it off. She was NOT nice about it! She didn't look at me but was exuding this really frustrated air. I couldn't just not say anything so I asked her what happened and were they fighting. She said, "Yes, and I have already told them several times to stop!" She totally yell-whispered at me! Ok. Why not talk to me after the 1st time or the 2nd? Why yell at me and get pissed off?
Guess what? There was nothing going on. They were not yelling! They were arguing and pushing the other off the chair and stuff but I could barely hear them from the other side of a bookcase! They were quiet about their little fight. Isn't that the #1 rule in the library? Quiet?
OH MY GOSH! This was not the 1st time I have gotten rudeness and flack from this place. This summer I tried to sign the kids up for summer reading program and to say that they were not helpful is being very nice! Anyways, I asked to speak to the woman in charge. I told her that I felt the library was a very important place to take my children and that I know sometimes they can be noisier than I want but that the attitudes of the workers that I have gotten the many times that I had been there were not positive and made me very sad. I told her that children need to learn how to act by coming often but the workers there did not seem to like or want children there b/c they have often gotten upset and snappy with them. Seriously, that was exactly what I said! Her reply? (rewind: during my conversation with her Gabriel had been hopping up to see over the check out counter) This is what manager lady said, "Well, like this is completely unacceptable behavior but I see you doing nothing to correct it".
EXCUSE ME??? 1st of all, I have the car seat with Emma over my right arm and Eli on my left hip what was I gonna do? Secondly, he wasn't on top of the counter, he wasn't even putting his feet on it to climb up! Believe me lady, it could've been worse! Should I have said no, get down? Sure! But I was having a conversation and trying not to make a scene so she wouldn't be embarrassed! Plus, this is a PUBLIC library! As long as he is not streaking, cussing, or drunk, he is not breaking the law! I was PISSED to say the very least! I was also sad/embarrassed that she thought of me as one of "those" Moms. I've never been one and never wanted to be.
I try hard to teach and train my kids to be kind, respectful, obedient, etc. But at the end of the day here it is: I cannot control their every move! They were put on this earth with agency and boy do they use it! They are not bad kids! They are kids! My husband told me I should have said, "Don't worry lady, you don't pay for these kids but my taxes do help pay your salary". The nerve! I was so upset! Later that day, I had lunch with my girlfriend Salena who has 6 of her own kids. She helped me embrace my reality:
I am one of those Moms.
I am not oblivious, I know what is going on most all the time but sometimes I have to choose to ignore it just to keep my sanity.
So there it is in all its glory.
The End.
3 comments:
nice vent Bekah! i often notice store/library/museum people get the look of annoyance and good-grief-why-is-she-bringing-the-entire-neighborhood-in-here. this is a free country. libraries are public places. people are supposed to be helpful and public servants, aren't they. instead of giving you a hard time, they should and could have been helping you. what happened to "do unto others". i wish i could have been there with you...then all our children could have have quietly argued over the computers :)
Ha, Ha!! I remember those days! but it isn't JUST these PD Brown librarians . . . nooooooo. .. . . I and my kids got kicked out of a library in Salt Lake . . . in the state where many people have lots of kids! Actually these ladies here were much more accepting of my kiddies . . . . though I guess that hasn't been your experience darn it!
Coming from one of those Mom's (me) I have to say I love putting what I need from the library on hold over the internet first-then I just show up and pick up all I need at the counter meaning my ELI has only a few short minutes to raise a ruckus =) Also you are putting all those ladies to work having them gather up the books for you. Make them earn their salary! I find librarians relate better to books than people.
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