Reasons I dislike story hour

Other people’s kids
Other people’s kids’ moms
wondering how to hit on the one cool mom for a mommy date* without seeming, you know, too desperate
the clapping
the singing
not doing the clapping or the singing and feeling like an ogre
trying to get there on time
trying to get out of there without incident or accident

And yet, I feel it’s my motherly duty to my preschooler to get him out of the house and in the company of other kids his age. The sacrifices we make …

*mommy dating: the process whereby one mom tries to pick up another mom at a mom-like location (library, tot lot, story hour) for future friendly activities with the children. I suck at it, way more than I sucked at regular straight-people dating, and that was pretty bad.

March 13, 2008 | Filed Under motherhood, neuroses

Comments

5 Responses to “Reasons I dislike story hour”

kelly on March 14th, 2008 7:54 am

i agree completely. and mommy dating stinks. i am awful at it. i am the mom who stands alone at the park. i should start an online mommy dating service.
Beth on March 14th, 2008 8:59 am

All so true. And yet I just double checked the sign up date for spring session. Library story hour sign up is crazy competitive here.
Diane on March 14th, 2008 3:52 pm

I love our librarian, but some of the other mommies are weird. I can’t stand the kids who jump up and down in front of the librarian the entire time , blocking the view for everyone else—while the mommy just sits there! I am rotten at making new friends too. Glad to read I’m not the only one! Great blog!
Dani on March 14th, 2008 6:52 pm

So, I guess you can’t just walk up and say, “Hey mommy, what’s your sign?”

Seriously though, it’s good for the little ones to play together at that age, because if they don’t they’ll be horrible when they have to go to school and share with all the other kids. Or so my teacher friends tell me.

And I know it’s hard for you, but maybe just say hi, ask her name, and see how far they live from the library. Gotta start somewhere, right?
supa on March 15th, 2008 10:19 pm

@Dani — I will totally try that next time.

@diane — Thanks!

@beth — signup? Oh crap.

@kelly I refuse to believe that! But yes. Start the service. I’ll be first in line. Not even kidding.