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rivkaI found out through one of the babysitters we interviewed that our local library has a story hour for babies as young as Alex. We went there today, and it was marvelous.
Story hour was at 10:30. At 9:50, Alex was asleep and I hadn't pumped yet, and I thought about waiting until next week. But the allure of leaving the house and having a new experience was too strong. I put in a short pumping session, threw some essentials in the diaper bag, woke Alex up by changing her diaper, and charged out to the library with the stroller. We were only about five minutes late.
I had never been down to the children's section before, and I was blown away. There are two activity rooms - one huge one with a domed skylight, where the older children had their story time, and a smaller one with carpeted amphitheater step/seats and a midnight-blue domed ceiling with tiny lights in it for stars, where the non-walkers had story time. The main children's library, which we visited afterward, has a fishpond with real fish.
We joined the ring of parents and babies in the non-walkers' story hour, and for about half an hour we chanted and sang nursery rhymes and other short songs. Props came out several times. The librarian had stuffed animals and other visual aids to illustrate several of the songs, and twice the babies all got props to hold - plastic gripping rings with bells on them, and then bright, wispy scarves to wave. When it was time to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," they dimmed the lights very slowly until all we could see was the stars in the ceiling.
Alex paid very close attention for about the first twenty minutes, and then had a hunger meltdown that made us leave the circle in search of a bottle. After that, she was more interested in her bottle than in the singing and the other babies. Afterward most of the babies stayed to play, and several of the mothers (and the librarian) came up to welcome us. Alex clung to me, but grinned at one or two of the other mothers. She didn't seem to know quite what to make of the other babies - this is the first time she's seen babies significantly older than herself. She was the youngest there by quite a bit, but the librarian said babies often start coming at three or four months old. Alex seemed to enjoy herself for the first part of story hour, so I don't think she's too young to be there.
After story time, we took a stroll through the children's library and I met a mother who has a 6-month-old and a 2-year-old. She lives downtown too, and I asked her where she went to connect with other parents of tiny children. She said the library was the place to be, and also mentioned a park in her neighborhood which might be close enough for me to walk to. We had a nice conversation, and said she'd see me after story hour next week.
I love my mother's group, but because it's up in the suburbs it tends to be full of suburban women. I think the library is going to be a better place to meet mothers and babies who live within walking distance - people we could actually visit. And it should be fun for both Alex and me. I'll have to arrange my work schedule so I have Friday mornings off.
Story hour was at 10:30. At 9:50, Alex was asleep and I hadn't pumped yet, and I thought about waiting until next week. But the allure of leaving the house and having a new experience was too strong. I put in a short pumping session, threw some essentials in the diaper bag, woke Alex up by changing her diaper, and charged out to the library with the stroller. We were only about five minutes late.
I had never been down to the children's section before, and I was blown away. There are two activity rooms - one huge one with a domed skylight, where the older children had their story time, and a smaller one with carpeted amphitheater step/seats and a midnight-blue domed ceiling with tiny lights in it for stars, where the non-walkers had story time. The main children's library, which we visited afterward, has a fishpond with real fish.
We joined the ring of parents and babies in the non-walkers' story hour, and for about half an hour we chanted and sang nursery rhymes and other short songs. Props came out several times. The librarian had stuffed animals and other visual aids to illustrate several of the songs, and twice the babies all got props to hold - plastic gripping rings with bells on them, and then bright, wispy scarves to wave. When it was time to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," they dimmed the lights very slowly until all we could see was the stars in the ceiling.
Alex paid very close attention for about the first twenty minutes, and then had a hunger meltdown that made us leave the circle in search of a bottle. After that, she was more interested in her bottle than in the singing and the other babies. Afterward most of the babies stayed to play, and several of the mothers (and the librarian) came up to welcome us. Alex clung to me, but grinned at one or two of the other mothers. She didn't seem to know quite what to make of the other babies - this is the first time she's seen babies significantly older than herself. She was the youngest there by quite a bit, but the librarian said babies often start coming at three or four months old. Alex seemed to enjoy herself for the first part of story hour, so I don't think she's too young to be there.
After story time, we took a stroll through the children's library and I met a mother who has a 6-month-old and a 2-year-old. She lives downtown too, and I asked her where she went to connect with other parents of tiny children. She said the library was the place to be, and also mentioned a park in her neighborhood which might be close enough for me to walk to. We had a nice conversation, and said she'd see me after story hour next week.
I love my mother's group, but because it's up in the suburbs it tends to be full of suburban women. I think the library is going to be a better place to meet mothers and babies who live within walking distance - people we could actually visit. And it should be fun for both Alex and me. I'll have to arrange my work schedule so I have Friday mornings off.
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-10 05:00 pm (UTC)One theme I'm noticing, in following your posts, is Alex's increasing attentiveness to and absorption in the world around her. She seems to be developing quite a sharp little mind.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-10 05:00 pm (UTC)Story time!
Date: 2005-06-10 05:03 pm (UTC)I am quoting your "not coming to breakfast at your house" comment a lot. I like it.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-10 06:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-10 06:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-10 09:26 pm (UTC)Bleah.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-11 01:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-14 12:50 am (UTC)