A few weeks ago, my parents were out of town, so I had the boys. (Some of my best stories start this way...) I decided that I would take them to story time at the library. Ah, the quietness of the library...punctuated with sharp exclamations of "No! Don't touch that! Come here! Patriiiiicccckkkk!" (Um, that would be me, whisper-screaming.) Pretty quickly, I went to the "grip the hand/arm method," at which point he starts crying out to the other patrons, "Hep! Hep! Hep me!"
The first thing that we did was sign in, showing our reading logs and collecting our prizes. Well, that's what I was doing. Patrick was securing markers and trying to redecorate the top of the table... On to select books. Theoretically, I select the books, while the boys quietly stand at my sides. Hahahahahhaha! Sorry, I cracked myself up for a minute there. What a fantasy! While I'm trying to look for interesting books, Patrick pulls out whatever he finds interesting. I finally got him to sit on the floor with a Thomas book.
Then it was time for the program. Patrick stayed interested for, oh, about 2 minutes. At some point, out of consideration for the other patrons, I decided that we'd better leave. Jerrel stayed to watch, and Patrick and I headed for the adult section. I decided that I might as well use the restroom while we waited. Yeah, that was stupid. I should have just waited for home...
I brought Patrick into the stall with me, so that I could be sure he was okay. Next time I may just chain him to a bookshelf. Flush, he'd found the toilet. "Patrick, no, stop that!" Flush. "Patrick Elliot!" Flush. Did I mention that I was on the toilet? Flush. He's a lightning-fast flusher, let me tell you! Then he quickly discovered how to open the stall door. "No, Patrick! Close that door!" He gave me a wide-eyed look. Then he swung out on the door, looking out into the restroom. "Patrick, close it!!" He pulled it partially closed. "Okay, now fasten the latch." Suddenly, genius boy has no clue how to comply. Opening, apparently, was much easier than closing. At this point, several other ladies come into the restroom. Now I'm whispering frantically. "Patrick, close it. Slide it closed." Somehow, he thought that I meant "swing the door open again, please."
The other ladies knew better, they really did. I could see it in the chagrin on their faces as they guiltily peeked, then smirked. Right back 'atcha ladies. 'Preciate ya!
Fall Goodness
5 years ago
2 comments:
You can't be talking about those innocent looking little angels I have seen in other blogs?:).
I had to laugh at the whisper screaming part, that is really hard to do, I have done it but it is hard, people look at you rather strangely too like you have swallowed a frog or something,usually the glare in my eyes told them that was not the case:). The bathroom story also brought back memories, not from Stacie but from another child that I thought would be a good idea to keep, never had that good idea again though:). I love your blogs they are always funny, probably not as funny when they are happening but I am sure after you get home and your blood pressure comes down from a gazillion/trillion, you laugh, you know you do. Take care. Hugs
You brought tears to my eyes when I read this post. I can just see it, maybe because I've done the whole library thing with toddlers/preschoolers and every time I would leave I would promise myself (and the boys) that that would be the LAST time I took them till they got older. Ha! Ha! That of course never lasted long. These days pass so quickly!! They are funny now though!
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