The Library. Chapter One.

“I hate libraries,” I state plainly.
“Why? How could you hate a library?”
“One, I can’t be bothered with returning books. Two, who knows what kind of people are touching the book before me? They could be wiping boogers on the pages. Spreading their spores. I do NOT want to get botchulism or some hemorrhagic fever from just reading some direly unhealthy person’s book. No way. I will not EVER go to the library.”
“We could save like $603.”
“Save money or death? No thank you. I choose life.”
“Fine,” he storms off with the maxed-out credit card bill with all of his hopes of ever getting out of debt.

Present Day

“Hey, know where I went with the kids today?”
“Where?”
“The library.”
“Ah, the library.”
“Did you know that they have all the books I have ever wanted to read and if they don’t, then they can order it for me?”
“Amazing.”
“And, I can I can reserve a book online. And, do you know the best part?”
“I can’t imagine.”
“They call me when it is in.”
“No way.”
“I can’t believe that I didn’t discover the library sooner.”
“What? Aren’t you happy? I don’t have to buy books anymore.”
“No reason. I am just astonished that you are still alive.”
“Shut up.”
He walks away smiling his smug grin of satisfaction.

This is the one argument I will give to my husband a resounding victory (though I may never tell him). Our town’s public library. The world’s greatest gift to an out-of-work, stay-at-home-not-by-choice mom desperately trying to balance the tedium of never-ending house work while entertaining her older-than-his-years kindergartner son, the devious, yet endlessly charming two-year-old daughter, and most importantly, herself.

It was on a whim and last ditch effort to entertain the kids on a rainy day, that I found myself securing library cards for my son and I and asking, “Where is the children’s section?” Off we headed to the lower level. The moment we passed through the doors, we were transported to wonderland equivalent the Great Library at Alexandria. There was no stuffiness of just stacks of books, but dozens of low, child-friendly shelves loaded with hours of entertainment waiting to be discovered.

Without a particular book in mind, we wandered down the aisles. When my son and daughter finally settled on a book, we headed over to the reading area. Again, not just tables and chairs, my friend.

Smooshy, poofy couches straight out of Too Many Frogs surrounded a play area stocked with a Lego table, puzzles, a toy house, stuffed animals and more. Hours passed. No one cried. No one wrestled the other to floor. It was perfect. An oasis of peace. An opportunity for the kids to explore letting their imaginations flow like a river and all the while learning.

You can find us there nearly every day. Reading, laughing, learning and remaining free from germs.