At the Library

Taking K to Story Time at the library is always an interesting endeavor...

We've been going on and off since she was about 18 months old, and, while she's always enjoyed it, I can't always say the same of her peers, thanks to her sometimes aggressive behavior.

Sometimes, she'd be just fine, but other times, she would muscle her way in to being the first kid through the tunnel, snatcher of whatever stuffed animal toy the librarian had used to illuminate the stories read, or stealer of whatever ball, game, toy, or pieces of felt she determined should be hers. Taking turns was not her strong suit.

But, as the months have passed, her comportment's improved substantially. Even a couple of months ago, I'd remove her shoes before the Librarian would announce the end-of-storytime playtime, so that no little toddler would get a careless or intentional K foot in the face. These days, though - probably thanks to the great manners and skills she's learned in preschool, she's a model storytime-goer.

One thing remains constant as a puzzler for me, though... Kids of ages ranging from around 2 to about 7 all seem to know the words and motions to the usual selection of songs and poems recited at storytime. But, despite the fact that I know K knows these things, too, she almost NEVER will participate. She loves to watch the kids do the hand motions and she definitely gets a kick out of the singing and puppets and other accoutrements, but she seldom lifts a hand, finger, or shakes it all about.

The other day, I asked her, "Baby, how come you don't do any of the motions to 'Itsy Bitsy Spider'?" Her answer completely confounded me. She immediately responded, "Because, Mommy, I don't think that the water should wash the spider out. That shouldn't happen!"

Recovering from my astonishment, I said, "But, the sun comes out in the end and dries up all the rain?!" Nope. She would not be swayed... and refuses to be a party to the crime committed against the spider in the name of a song!