Maybe I can like St. Valentine's Day
Today Myles and I spent nearly all of our waking hours in the Carnegie Complex in Oakland. For some this might be a penance, but believe me, it was fantastic.
It started out with our Tuesday Toddler Story Time at the Carnegie Library. This is a ritual unto itself, which involves books, songs, rhymes, coffee, and snacks. After our story time was over I asked Myles if he wanted to eat lunch at the library or go home. He had a third option in mind.
"Go to the museum."
Last weekend he learned that the museum (actually both the art and the natural history museums) is connected to the library. I think a lot of our Tuesdays will be Library AND Museum Day. We did go to the Scaife Galleries of the Art Museum (again, focused on sculptures, especially "Dirty cookie" and the broken ones), and to the Natural History Museum to look at what Dinosaurs are there (they are in the process of restore the fossils and revamping their entire Dinosaur Hall). Gradually, from the library to the museum, he started catching on to greeting people with a "Happy Valentine's Day."
We returned to the Library AGAIN in the evening for Pajama Time. I was NOT the only parent in PJ's this time (yea! small victory). Myles went in his Chinese PJ's that Randy gave him for Christmas. I thought that wouldn't be a popular with him since he spent the rest of the day proudly as Hines Ward, but with both of us in our PJ's it helps.
Myles sat attentively some of the time to the Valentine-themed books (including this one, Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink).
At the end, I asked him if he had something to say to our librarian Kathy before we left. This is the same librarian he has had for his primary Baby Lap-Sit and Toddler Story Time (up until Christmas) experiences. Normally, I expect him to remember to say, thank you. This time, he said thoughtfully, "Happy Valentine's Day." He then opened his arms to give her a giant hug and leaned his cheek towards her to permit a friendly kiss.
I've seen other children grow affectionate with Kathy through their experiences at the story times. What I really like about her is that she is always surprised and appreciative. She is so fantastic with these smallest children that I know several moms that don't bother going to a closer library for the story times and go to hers. Unfortunately she doesn't do the Toddler Times anymore, but we now make sure we go to Pajama Time the second Tuesday of the Month.
If this is what St. Valentine's Day can be from now on, doing things we love and demonstrating our love for other people, I'm all for it. There are just certain things I would like to keep as far from all this as I can.
It started out with our Tuesday Toddler Story Time at the Carnegie Library. This is a ritual unto itself, which involves books, songs, rhymes, coffee, and snacks. After our story time was over I asked Myles if he wanted to eat lunch at the library or go home. He had a third option in mind.
"Go to the museum."
Last weekend he learned that the museum (actually both the art and the natural history museums) is connected to the library. I think a lot of our Tuesdays will be Library AND Museum Day. We did go to the Scaife Galleries of the Art Museum (again, focused on sculptures, especially "Dirty cookie" and the broken ones), and to the Natural History Museum to look at what Dinosaurs are there (they are in the process of restore the fossils and revamping their entire Dinosaur Hall). Gradually, from the library to the museum, he started catching on to greeting people with a "Happy Valentine's Day."
We returned to the Library AGAIN in the evening for Pajama Time. I was NOT the only parent in PJ's this time (yea! small victory). Myles went in his Chinese PJ's that Randy gave him for Christmas. I thought that wouldn't be a popular with him since he spent the rest of the day proudly as Hines Ward, but with both of us in our PJ's it helps.
Myles sat attentively some of the time to the Valentine-themed books (including this one, Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink).
At the end, I asked him if he had something to say to our librarian Kathy before we left. This is the same librarian he has had for his primary Baby Lap-Sit and Toddler Story Time (up until Christmas) experiences. Normally, I expect him to remember to say, thank you. This time, he said thoughtfully, "Happy Valentine's Day." He then opened his arms to give her a giant hug and leaned his cheek towards her to permit a friendly kiss.
I've seen other children grow affectionate with Kathy through their experiences at the story times. What I really like about her is that she is always surprised and appreciative. She is so fantastic with these smallest children that I know several moms that don't bother going to a closer library for the story times and go to hers. Unfortunately she doesn't do the Toddler Times anymore, but we now make sure we go to Pajama Time the second Tuesday of the Month.
If this is what St. Valentine's Day can be from now on, doing things we love and demonstrating our love for other people, I'm all for it. There are just certain things I would like to keep as far from all this as I can.
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