I took Ammon and Clarissa to the library on Wednesday morning. The preschool program there is so good for Ammon, and I think the toddler’s story time is good for Clarissa, even if she has THE shortest attention span of all my kids. I never recall having a problem with Mary or Lydia at story time. In my memory, those two would pay rapt attention. Lydia was too shy at the time to do the motions or participate, but she would sit quietly and absorb it all. Mary would participate! I remember being so charmed by that novelty. And neither girl would even contemplate wandering around the library during story time.
Ammon was, um, different. He would roam all around, but he was also curious about story time, so he would also pay intermittent attention.
Clarissa pays attention for three minutes, max. And then she’s antsy and wants to play. I have made the mistake of releasing her from her stroller, but I’ve learned that if I do that, I will pay the price when it’s time to put her back in. Her screams are deafening! So now I just take her to story time for two or three minutes, walk quickly around the library checking out books for myself or for the kids, and then go back to story time for another two minutes. And even then we just barely stave off the tantrum Clarissa is dying to throw…
But she is so cute. I had so much fun with her during the night routine because Ammon was asleep and the girls were at dance. It was just the two of us, and I got to just sink into watching Clarissa and talking with her. She is very conversational, even though she hardly ever forms a recognizable word. She points and communicates splendidly. We had such a good time.
Lydia was very happy because she is now old enough to go to Activity Day Girls. It’s at 7pm, which is normally the time she is supposed to be in her bedroom (not sleeping, but doing quiet things). She was so thrilled to be out of the house instead!
While she was gone, Abe and I had a special snack with Mary. We asked her lots of questions and smiled at her cute answers and mannerisms. Her eyes get very wide when she is being sincere, and she has the most adorable, raspy little voice.