Friday mornings at our local library is story time for kids. Stories are read, songs sung and craft done, it’s 3 year old heaven for Big Sis. Little Bro doesn’t mind it either, there are books to suck, older kids to emulate and dangerous things like scissors to try and get control of while mum is distracted.
Big Sis is hilarious, she has identified the lady who reads the stories as key personnel and does everything she can to impress her. Big Sis sits up straight right in front of her and obeys all commands promptly! She also edges ever closer - the lady always ends up with Big Sis’ hands on her knees, or bottom on her shoes by the end of the story.
It’s very well structured with something exciting always coming up next! Finished the stories, well let’s sing some songs! Songs might be over but now we’ll do craft, done that? It’s time for a stamp on your hand on the way out! After that your kids are your problem again.
In order to get everyone home in good order (and the shopping done) I’ve found you need to keep the incentives flowing. So we leave the library to have a milkshake, after that we do some shopping on the way to the horsey ride. When we finish that, we are back in the pram so we can stop and look for the cat at that house half way home. Haven’t found the cat? Never mind, back in the pram and we’ll get home so we can have vegemite sandwiches for lunch, and Big Sis can help make them! Lunch is over, time for a nap - because after that we’ll go to the park!
So, it may look like a leisurely stroll to the shops for a bit of shopping and then back home, but it’s actually an operation involving planning, strategy and skill. The trick is to make them think it’s all their idea! Believe me, just saying “Ok kids, hop in the pram now - all the fun’s over, I’ll just wheel you home and put you in bed” doesn’t go down too well!
We are actually heading to the hairdresser this afternoon for Little Bros first haircut. I have noticed the back is starting to resemble a mullet. Big Sis loves the hairdresser, now I just need to think of what can be on offer to get us home afterwards…..”It’s Friday afternoon and mummy is very worn out, we’ll just go home now and sit quietly” is unlikely to wash!
Library, shopping
