Kelsie is in Dance Camp this week, so it is just me and Carley doing our thing. Today we went to the library. A fun and enjoyable activity, no? Not exactly, at least not this trip. I had a few books on hold to find, so Carley went right over to the children’s section and quickly picked out two books. Probably the two biggest and heaviest books in the section, but nonetheless two “must reads” in her little mind…Really, who could argue that “The LIttle Mermaid” special edition and “Princess Stories” with sparkling gold rimmed pages are THE BEST two books that ever were?
Carley brings the two books over to the table to “read” while I look over the summer reading suggestions for Preschool/Kindergarten. As I make my selections, I run them by Carley, who is usually easy to please when it comes to books. At least until I show her a book with a little mouse on the cover called “Lunch.” I ask her if we’ve read it before, to which her response is “No,” so I tell her to take it and add it to the pile on the table. She goes on to tell me she doesn’t want to check it out, but I hand it to her anyway, saying that “sissy” will want to read it.
Carley gets one hand on the book and proceeds to THROW it across the table; the book lands on the floor. I tell her to pick it up and that we are not getting any books today. MELTDOWN.
It isn’t until I take my books to the check-out counter that Carley realizes I am dead serious. She RUNS back to the table and picks up HER two books (Mermaid and gold sparkle Princess) and brings them to me, screaming. I explain again why we aren’t getting any books and ask the librarian if she can hold the two books until tomorrow when “we” are able to behave properly and not throw books in the library. Carley then RUNS through the ENTIRE library, SCREAMING. Wait, before that she did manage to THROW herself down on the ground in protest.
No doubt, every single person in the library, a place where it’s almost tabu to even talk, is staring at me in horror. I finally turn around and walk towards the door. It doesn’t take long for Carley to follow, still screaming of course.
By the time we get to the car, the mommy guilt starts setting in. However, I feel a small victory knowing I really made my point. As we drive off, I remind Carley why we left with no books and tell her if she’s a good girl at the grocery store we can go back and get them.
An ANGEL accompanies me to the grocery store, stays in her cart, and doesn’t ask for anything. Not even gum at check-out. A mommy’s grocery shopping DREAM for sure.
And yes, we went back and got the books. :)
