I'm so humiliated. I'm the mother of that toddler. 20 kids at story time and all but mine managed to sit on their cushions or their mother's laps for story time, paying attention to the music and stories and puppets.

Mine throws a fit until I hand him the case for my sunglasses and he proceeds to get up and run all around the room--including through the crowd and in front of the teacher.

Have I completely fucked up by not doing any organized activities with him and letting him run around uninhibited? He's like a little hurricane and I actually worked up a sweat running around after him trying to keep the library books on the shelves.

I don't know if I can show my face there next week.

Gah.

You have not fucked up, Cash. He's, what, not-yet-two? This is the time to be starting that kind of behavioral control, not to have already perfected it!

Cashmere, I hate to say it, but one fussy day is CLEAR EVIDENCE that your son is doomed to be a social terror foreveranevah.

My condolences.

(I'll bet you a nickle you're the only one who even remembers it happened)

his is the time to be starting that kind of behavioral control, not to have already perfected it!

It's so hard to be the only one who's kid isn't behaving. When I picked him up to go he threw a crying fit and I had to haul him out of there with tears streaming down his face. I just beat feet out of there as quickly as I could.

When I picked him up to go he threw a crying fit and I had to haul him out of there with tears streaming down his face.

Awwww. Well, O and Annabel are getting into the tantrumy ages. It just happens with some kids more than others. (Emmett was a More.)

They do learn group activities - it's not innate. So he'll get the hang of it.

But it probably won't be the last time you have to hustle him out of a place during a crying fit.

Also, Emmett was a total chunker as a baby. I thought it was a positive the first time he got a stomach virus and dropped three pounds in a week. He could afford it.

I am guessing next week it will be somone elses kid. Here's the plan.

Talk to Owen about story time. explain what happens. talk about how much fun it is , talk about seein other kids, talk about getting books to bring home. Go. Be prepared to leave. If it happens again - he might not be ready. This is not unusal. Some kids are ready at 2, others aren't really ready until 3. That's kinda the point of storytime.

We like it , 'cause it get kids and moms in the library. It is good for kids - because they start to learn that different places require different inds of behavior.

Honestly , the only behavior librarians hate , comes from moms. moms who ignore their kids and let them run wild. moms that let thierkids pull all the books off the shelves and scatterthem on the floor ( just pick the up off the floor and pile them neaty so they don't get damaged) And mom's that come for social hour and - talk over the story teller.

madrigal - I am sorry your relatives are missbehaveing. That's just foolishness. no one has to write every day , or everyweek. But a hi, boy you should have seen the squirrls teaseing the cat yesterday. Are you haveing fun? is all it takes.

I'll try not to despair. And hopefully next week will go better. I mean, I have to get him out there so he can learn how to behave properly so I just need to care fuck all what other mothers think.

At least he was very gentle and polite with the other kids and didn't steal anyone's toys or sippy cups.

I think Mal looks PERFECT, for the record.

Trust me on this Cash, every mom and dad has had those days. Lots of those days.

Madrigal's in jail, pass it on

Also, Brendon Jr. was 22 pounds at 4 months and such a butterball. He is now over 6' and 150 pounds. They grow out then up, repeat often.

edit cause are is not and

so I just need to care fuck all what other mothers think.

Other mothers have had their tantrum moments with their kids too. Here's what they thought: "That poor, Mom. Phew, at least it wasn't mine. Today."

At least he was very gentle and polite with the other kids and didn't steal anyone's toys or sippy cups.

This matters much more in the toddler social scheme of things. Heaven forbid you have a biter. Then come the dirty glares at pick up time. (Emmett was not a biter. He was often bitten however.)

Heaven forbid you have a biter

He only bit me a few times. We broke that QUICKLY.

the only behavior librarians hate , comes from moms. moms who ignore their kids and let them run wild. moms that let thierkids pull all the books off the shelves and scatterthem on the floor

I pretty much follow him closely, unless he's approaching other kids or playing with toys. If he's running, I'm right there beside him.

We'll try again next week and if it doesn't work out now, I'll try when he's older.

OK, we're off to the grocery. Thanks, everyone. I'm a little less stressed now.