The Library

This guy looks pretty sweet, doesn't he?

Well, don't let that cute little face fool you.  This incredibly affectionate and funny little kid can be a monster.

Today I took Murphy and Cooper to the library.  You know, trying to be a good mom, wanting to promote summer reading and learning.  Murphy was fine.  Cooper, however, was not.

Cooper ran around like he had never before seen the light of day.  He stayed in one place all of about 4.5 seconds before moving on to the next thing.  He picked up books from the shelves, studied the cover for a few seconds and then dropped it on the floor so he could move on to the next one.

Before going, I looked up some books I wanted to get for Murphy.  I wanted to get some small chapter books that he could read by himself, and a more difficult one for me to read to him.  So, I had my list and needed to go find them.  This proved to be almost impossible.  I say almost because I think I did actually accomplish my goal (they only had one of the eight books I wrote down), but at the expense of my dignity.

It was all over when Cooper found the computers.

I did my best at trying to distract him with puzzles and books, etc.  I tried to gently ease him away from the computers.  I tried to check out a handful of books as quickly as possible - all while hearing him doing who knows what around the corner.  I'm sure he was jumping on the couches or something.  He was making so much noise that a librarian got up to go see what was going on.

All I remember thinking was "stay calm, you're in a public place."  I honestly did the best I could and our stay was as brief as humanly possible.  And when I tried to get Cooper to leave, he let out the worst, high-pitched, blood curdling scream you've ever heard.  Of course, I hear that scream on a fairly regular basis - more than I'd like to admit.  However, to the untrained ear, it is awfully scary and painful.

HUMILIATING.

I could feel all the stares and I knew that at that very moment, I was being judged.  I hope a few felt pity for me.  Because I sure as hell felt sorry for myself.

At the time I thought I would never take him to the library again.  But, hours later, I'm thinking that maybe the right answer would be to take just Cooper - with no lists of books to look for - and just concentrate on his behavior.  Maybe after a few trips like that, he'll learn how he's supposed to behave.  Hope is a beautiful thing, isn't it?

Looking back, I am reminded of a similar experience with him... anyone remember this Gymnastics post?

So, after successfully removing my screaming child from the library (which took super human strength since he's heavy and was completely uncooperative) I drove home more angry than I have been in a long time.  I must have done something pretty bad in a prior life.  When we were home I gave Murphy one of the books.  To which he replied, "No thanks, Mom, I'd rather watch Spongebob."

Nice.

Worth all the humiliation?  No.  Not even close.

At this point, I'm just glad the day is over.  It would have been better if I could have made myself a nice drink after the kids were in bed.  Or immediately after the aforementioned embarrassing event.  But, I'm running 7 miles in the morning.  So, it's off limits until tomorrow.  So, I'll be packing it in the car so I can have some immediately after my run.  Kidding.  Seriously just kidding.  I'll wait till I get home.

Thanks!
~Christy