The Screaming of the Lambs
Most days at the library are normal - quiet times, busier times, children in and out of the department over the course of the day in varying numbers. Normal days. We may have a programme or a class visit with a corresponding rush of people, and then the crowds dissipate and we have a small handful. Normal.
Some days are oddly quiet, with few children visiting. These days seem lnoger in some ways, but do allow for getting some other work done that slides at busier times.
And some days... Well, today, for example. Today is the Day of the Screams. We have had young children and babies screaming the most ear-splitting screams out of the blue. Screams that rattle your nerves, make your muscles all clench tight, and turn your brain to jelly. By the time one family departed, I was a wreck. They weren't the only ones, though. We've had screaming and crying and loud voices and running around and butting in virtually all day, or at least since about 10 a.m. I hate to appear annoyed, because in most cases, the caregivers are trying. Some kids are just screamers. Some others are not attempting to contain behaviours, true, but the ear-shattered screeches came from a toddler whose mother was on him, stopping him right away, until the next unpredictable outburst. So I'm not saying that the caregivers are always at fault here.
No, I'm saying I'm tired and strung out and clearly not cut out to handle this today. That it is an extraordinarily busy and loud day today, likely because the onimous weather is driving people indoors. That really, I just want to go home and bury my head in my pillow and admit no sound or light for a few hours. I think I might be starting to count down my days left at this point...
Labels: library life
posted by kittenpie @ 1:15 PM
11 Comments:
Some toddler screams just zoom straight to the centre of your brain!
Poop on all the noise and busy-ness - a library is meant to be a haven.
Oh yes, I have attended and contributed to those kind of days at our local library - I'm sorry you had to endure that. Perhaps duct tape is the answer. I'm kidding - ear plugs, yup, ear plugs. I really hope the final stretch goes quickly and quietly.
I was given a pair of noise-canceling headphones for the airplane a few years back. Perhaps they would help in the library? They were designed for blocking consistent noise like roaring engines, so perhaps if there are consistent screamers? Ha.
I came over here because there was a spider on my hand after it had clambered off of my keyboard. Really. I shit you not.
Those days must be arduous Kitten. Beat a hasty retreat and hide on that third floor.
I am currently mother to one of those screamers, so let me apologize of behalf of them everywhere.
For the record, I hate the screaming too. Like fingernails on a chalkboard. But how do you reason with a baby?
And, is it dangerous to wear ear plugs all day long? I've considered it.
My children are generally well behaved in the library (well, anywhere, really). But we have one librarian in our local branch, in the adult section, who believes that people in the library shouldn't breath too loudly while there. We have to walk by her to get to the children's area and I'm sure it nearly causes a nervous breakdown as my son excitedly calls, "C'mon mom! Let's see if Curious George is in!" each and every time we walk by.
On the flip side, Jake, however, is showing signs of becoming an excited screamer. We may need to rethink our outing strategies soon! :)
We've been having a lot of screamers lately, too. Usually it's babies being held by their moms as they ignore the babies and surf the Internet.
How many more days left?
Oh man. I feel like I should apologize here because KayTar has definitely been that toddler with the piercing shrieks. The hardest part was figuring a way to get her OUT of the library without making it even worse for everyone. We have a little lighted sound meter in the children's section...green is okay, yellow means quiet down a bit, and red means you're way too loud. Anyway, I thought she was going to make the whole thing explode. The kid sure can scream.
We haven't been to the library in a while. LOL.
Is it a full moon? I swear sometimes there is this animal like pack behaviour that is inexplicable by the standards of decent society. We meet in the staff room and say 'the kids are all insane today' and someone looks it up.
I have to second Lisa b's comment - when I taught, too, we could tell if we were at or at day away from a full moon. Seriously. Not sure what the moon chart is now, but it'd be interesting if it were full that day!
Post a Comment
<< Home