Appropriate Behavior: A Run-in with a Motherbitch
It's been a while since I've told you a tale of a motherbitch run-in. But, it's time again!
Since the bigs were at VBS in the mornings last week, I was able to take Cub to Storytime for Twos at the library one day. And, to clarify, while it is called "storytime," only one story is read. The kids dance and sing, the librarian blows bubbles for the kids to chase, and there are toys laid out in the center of the circle. It's really more of playgroup.
About THIRTY two year-olds in one room for storytime.
I was chatting with the mom beside me. You know, at least trying to be sociable.
Her daughter was about to graduate onto the preschoolers storytime- only having another two weeks as a two year-old. Cub is still a new-two, having turned two a month ago.
The other mom did a stage-whisper that she obviously wanted the room at large to hear and said, "It's so nice that you make your son sit in your lap and pay attention. I can't believe how some of these moms let their kids run around."
I had to stop myself from calling her a motherbitch.
Because, seriously.....they are two.
Some of them just having turned two.
They are in a room with a bunch of other little ones and they are playing with each other. For an hour. That's a long time for a two year-old to sit still.
Doing research back when I was teaching and in culture shock going from teaching 8th graders to teaching 3rd graders, I learned that the average 8 year-old has an attention span of 15-20 minutes. And so, I took a different approach to my teaching.
And yet, someone is going to complain that 2 year-olds can't pay attention for an hour?
Shortly after that, Cub climbed out of my lap and joined in a game of catch with another little boy. And then decided he would go dance with a little girl and give her a kiss. Heaven help me with this girl-crazy child.
The mom sitting beside me stopping talking to me after that. I guess because my child was no longer being "good."
And then she said to the mom on the other side of her, "It's always the boys who can't listen, isn't it?"
I really wished that I could kick her, in defense of my fellow moms-of-boys. Besides, there were girls up out of their seats, too- like the girl that was dancing with Cub.
Kids grow and change and can handle things better as they get older. There is a reason that they do not lump all age groups together in the same storytime, besides just the content.
My older boys sit nicely at their preschool storytime. Even without me there to force them to do so. Yes, I totally peek in the window to make sure and know the librarian who would tell me if there had been a problem.
When they were two year-olds, though, yes, they were more interested in playing than in sitting quietly. But, I don't think it's a big deal.
The same way that I don't think that it's bad when they are LOUD and boisterous when we are at a playground or pool or amusement park or in our backyard.
As long as they are not hurting anyone, understand that this is what little kids do. They play. They enjoy themselves. They don't always understand sitting still or being quiet. Look at where you are and ask if it's a place for quiet or for fun.
Even thinking about older kids: my eighth graders used to give me a headache at their breaktime. They would yell and squeal out in the courtyard, throwing footballs around, teasing each other, showing off. Obnoxious as only young teenagers can be. But, it was their breaktime. We were outside. How bizarre would it be to expect them to just sit and talk quietly. Once we were back in the classroom, they behaved like good students shouldbecause they were scared of their mean teacher.
Now, some might argue that the library is a place for quiet and that these little ones at storytime should be taught better- but my boys, even Cub, know to be quiet in the main part of the library. Cub holds a finger to his lips and will "shush" as I quickly pick out my books.
But, if you honestly expect 30 2 year-olds to sit quietly for a full hour....well, I'm not even sure what to say to that.
Since the bigs were at VBS in the mornings last week, I was able to take Cub to Storytime for Twos at the library one day. And, to clarify, while it is called "storytime," only one story is read. The kids dance and sing, the librarian blows bubbles for the kids to chase, and there are toys laid out in the center of the circle. It's really more of playgroup.
About THIRTY two year-olds in one room for storytime.
I was chatting with the mom beside me. You know, at least trying to be sociable.
Her daughter was about to graduate onto the preschoolers storytime- only having another two weeks as a two year-old. Cub is still a new-two, having turned two a month ago.
The other mom did a stage-whisper that she obviously wanted the room at large to hear and said, "It's so nice that you make your son sit in your lap and pay attention. I can't believe how some of these moms let their kids run around."
I had to stop myself from calling her a motherbitch.
Because, seriously.....they are two.
Some of them just having turned two.
They are in a room with a bunch of other little ones and they are playing with each other. For an hour. That's a long time for a two year-old to sit still.
Doing research back when I was teaching and in culture shock going from teaching 8th graders to teaching 3rd graders, I learned that the average 8 year-old has an attention span of 15-20 minutes. And so, I took a different approach to my teaching.
And yet, someone is going to complain that 2 year-olds can't pay attention for an hour?
Shortly after that, Cub climbed out of my lap and joined in a game of catch with another little boy. And then decided he would go dance with a little girl and give her a kiss. Heaven help me with this girl-crazy child.
The mom sitting beside me stopping talking to me after that. I guess because my child was no longer being "good."
And then she said to the mom on the other side of her, "It's always the boys who can't listen, isn't it?"
I really wished that I could kick her, in defense of my fellow moms-of-boys. Besides, there were girls up out of their seats, too- like the girl that was dancing with Cub.
Kids grow and change and can handle things better as they get older. There is a reason that they do not lump all age groups together in the same storytime, besides just the content.
My older boys sit nicely at their preschool storytime. Even without me there to force them to do so. Yes, I totally peek in the window to make sure and know the librarian who would tell me if there had been a problem.
When they were two year-olds, though, yes, they were more interested in playing than in sitting quietly. But, I don't think it's a big deal.
The same way that I don't think that it's bad when they are LOUD and boisterous when we are at a playground or pool or amusement park or in our backyard.
As long as they are not hurting anyone, understand that this is what little kids do. They play. They enjoy themselves. They don't always understand sitting still or being quiet. Look at where you are and ask if it's a place for quiet or for fun.
Even thinking about older kids: my eighth graders used to give me a headache at their breaktime. They would yell and squeal out in the courtyard, throwing footballs around, teasing each other, showing off. Obnoxious as only young teenagers can be. But, it was their breaktime. We were outside. How bizarre would it be to expect them to just sit and talk quietly. Once we were back in the classroom, they behaved like good students should
Now, some might argue that the library is a place for quiet and that these little ones at storytime should be taught better- but my boys, even Cub, know to be quiet in the main part of the library. Cub holds a finger to his lips and will "shush" as I quickly pick out my books.
But, if you honestly expect 30 2 year-olds to sit quietly for a full hour....well, I'm not even sure what to say to that.
Labels: motherbitches, parenting decisions
posted by Shell at
6:52 AM
83 Comments:
OY!!!! Dontcha just LOVE it! And I've got news for that Mamma of girls, at 2, The Boy Child would sit quietly and not move from my lap, it was The Girl Child who'd cause a ruckus if I wasn't careful!!! Just depends on the kid!
Why are we moms always so critical of each other???
I can't believe that chick said that!!! I would've had a very hard time keeping my mouth shut for sure!
It is true though...you can't expect little kids to just sit still all the time!!! What fun is that?
Awwwwww hell naw!! 1 hour for a two year old??? That's laughable. I have a great Motherbitch story. Let me know if you ever do a Motherbitch linky.. oooh maybe a Motherbitch once a month Meme!!
I'm proud of you for not smacking her. Cause I would have. Where was her child during all this? Kids are supposed to have fun and play and run around. I hope to have a teacher for my future children that understands this as you do.
"It's always the boys who can't listen, isn't it?"
I've never been kicked out of a library before, but it would have been ON after that statement.
Yes, Motherbitch, it ALWAYS the boys. Let me guess, first and only child?
Criminy.
P.S. of course Cub is a chick magnet - you've seen the child!
We live in very small town USA where our local library is within walking distance, but there is only one "group". It's a summer reading club, open to all ages. The group consists of 5 8-10 year old girls, and my sweet little not-quite 5 year old boy...of course my 3.5 year old boy & 2 year old girl are there as well. Yes, my kids are louder than the older girls. Yes, my kids squirm more than the older girls. But I'm secretly hoping that although these girls get annoyed with my children once in awhile, they'll look back on it in 20 years when they have little ones of their own & remember that kids are kids no matter the location. Congrats for not kicking her in the head like I would have done. :D
Yeppers...definitely a MOTHERBITCH! I'm pretty confrontational, so I would have stage whispered to the person on the other side of me that some people needed to pull their heads out of their leaky vag holes and let the kids be kids. But that's just me. LMAO I always enjoy reading about the motherbitches you encounter....you rock! =)
This must be why I like to go places with friends - so I can do a counter-stage whisper about how ridiculous it is for anyone to expect 2-yr.-olds to sit quietly for an hour. And then to stage whisper to my friend about how surprised I am at how judgmental other moms can be. Maybe that would've shut her up. Sigh. At least these motherbitches are not the majority of us.
Wow, I would have fumed like you about that motherbitch. The nerve! She probably sedates her children to have them sit still for an hour. Seriously, my 7 year old still squeals and runs around when let loose!
I agree with Jane, if you ever do a motherbitch meme link up let me know. I had a experience with one last week in the Gymboree clothing store. I should have known better, they probably congregate there!
As a mom of a boy I would have clawed her eyes out...well not really I guess but things would not have been pretty.
Boys will be boys & kids will be kids especially when they are all 2 years olds! I bet her kid is really a holy terror and was just having a good day! :OP
I wish people would just let kids be kids.
I am so grateful that our library has a lap-sit for parents and pre-K kids to gather and talk and play. The kids are never "shushed" and it's meant for them to be active and for parents to connect. They also have presentations and activities during the summer reading program, but I wish they'd be more pre-K friendly. I think it's awesome that they have a 2 year-old story time like that - the reason to have this would be to recognize that they are not going to sit quietly the whole time, but enjoy and express themselves. I would be worried if 2 year-olds all sat still the entire time because their moms threatened and shamed them into being "good."
As far as I understand during story time the regular rules don't really apply, and I doubt the librarians don't have that exact expectation of the two year old.
Any mother that would judge another mother for something like that sounds like they have some control issues...
and are a m-b!
OH my word! My daughter is also freshly two, and she has the attention span of a gnat. THere is no way in hell she would sit still for an hour. It cracks me up even thinking about actually. lol
I think moms that act like that are just insecure in their own parenting. Seriously! It's storytime for two year olds, lady! I totally agree with you Shell. :)
Come by and link up a Mommy confession! I have one up that's pretty embarassing. It's only going to make me feel good if others join inthe shame. LOL
I actually gasped out loud at my computer when I got to her comment about girls vs. boys.
I have 2 girls, and all I can say is if she has a kid who, at age 2, will sit in her lap, then she has had a pretty darn easy time at motherhood. That is not typical, not by any stretch of the imagination.
I wish for her a strong-willed hell raiser as her next child. Then see how she feels.
I've been there! My son wouldn't sit still when he started storytime either. I would get nasty looks from other moms as they forced their 2 year old to sit still, usually causing huge meltdowns.
I agree with you - that's how kids are. I would have had a hard time biting my tongue.
Bizarre to expect 2 years to sit still for an hour. I would wonder if a 2 year old sitting still for an hour was sick or medicated. Neither my boy or girl could stay still for that long.
Yes, 30 2 year olds quiet for an hour is NOT a reasonable expectation. That's a long story time. I agree with you!
It's the boys who can't listen, well she should meet my daughter!
Just a thought, but if it was supposed to be quiet time ... maybe the librarian wouldn't have had toys, bubbles, etc. to stimulate those 2-year-olds.
Actually, I think you could have made your entire point by saying ... um, they're two.
I know adults who can't pay attention for longer than 5 minutes!
I would have helped Ian.
We could have a library brawl.
Wait til her kid turns 3. There is no way on earth her kid can be an angel at 2 AND 3. Then she'll hear the 'whispers' and realize what a bitch she's been. Or at least that is how this plays out in my head. ;)
My son is not even 11 months old and is a wild child so when he is t2 years old...wathc out world!!
I always think of the best things to say after the fact! I can't stand know-it-alls!!
Kinda wonder how she disciplines her child to get her to be so "good".
People are absolutely unbelievable...I would've wanted to kick her, too ;)
And where was her perfect child at in all this?? Sitting in a corner sucking their thumb with a definable twitch?? That is where I would have been with her as a mother.. seriously
It would be lovely to watch that woman when her child throws a temper tantrum.
I get so offended when other "girl" moms say things about boys...I mean my little guy is just as good as the next girl!
I wonder what she was like when she was 2? I have a girl who can't sit still and she is almost 3. The moms behavior was what was unaccceptable. I would have been silently seething.
Ew. She sounds charming.
I feel bad for her kid!
I bet her well behaved 2 year old perfect girl child is knocked up by 15...I'm just saying.
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com
I thinking something may be strange with HER child. I'm a mother of a boy and a girl (older now, ages 18 and 11), neither one could have sat still for an our at the age of two. Hell, I can barely sit still for an hour at the age of 41, esp if there are bubbles! Do NOT tell the Motherbitch!
A man did a stage whisper about my nephew who has autism the other day. We were in a hotel, and the kids had been in the car for 2 hours.... 2 hours of windy roads. So my nephew, who is always curious anyway, was running around the lobby and playing with everything. The man said to the lady next to him, "Well, there's obviously an only child." I didn't hear him, only my mom did. But I would've said something if I had. I wish I had. grrr
I would have to do a little stage-whisper of my own if I was you.
I have a 2 year old niece and she would be up there with your Cub dancing and probably getting HIM into trouble. The MB lives in a "storytime" world.
There is a HUGE difference between a new 2 yr old and an almost 3 yr old. It's like 2 different kids. Literally. Why more people don't get that is beyond me.
That's just sad! I feel bad for her kids!
why is it boys get that oh they are just a boy thing all the time?
My fav is how everyone always says that it's ok to hold a boy back one year from school cause afterall "he's a boy" WTF is that all about? my son is considered a "young one" in his class seeing how his bday is in July just before school starts everyone sorta expected him to not start school or go to the kindergarten readiness class because he is a boy and just can't be as advanced and smart and behaved and ready for kindergarten as the girls-once again WTF?
I am so glad I prooved all those motherbitches wrong and he is one of the best behaved kids, and one of the smartest in his class and has always been so the past 3 yrs!
unbeleivable!!!I have to brave taking my twins to storytime!!They will be 2 in Aug and there is no way!!They would go crazy!!I actually never took my older kids either!!SSShhh!! They all grew up and love to read despite my avoiding alot of public places with 3 under 4!!!
Motherbitch. I love it.
Seriously, your 2yo doesn't sit completely still for 60 minutes? STRAIGHT? Come on now, you must be doing SOMETHING WRONG. Oh, wait, so must I. And more than the moms I know, but alllllll the moms out there, because geez, who wants a 2yo to sit motionless and dumbstruck? Duh! OK, I feel better now. Seriously, tho, if your kid wants to sit in your lap and listen, or cling to you, that's cool, if s/he wants to run around and play with kids the same age, what's wrong with that? Now I'm judging HER, but she asked for it!
It's so sad to me how more moms are like this one these days. It's like a competition to see who has the best of everything, including child. It's wrong.
GRRR!!! From a mom of two boys,that mother would have seen my bitch come outtta tha box!
OY! It's such a bummer when that happens. They are always gonna be out there! Some people just don't get it, LOL! It makes things stressful, but small kids are just doing what they do best=0) I guess that's why I stay home A LOT, LOL!
Have a great day,
xoxo,
Carol
They are going to spend most of their lives sitting quietly and controlling themselves. Childhood is the time to have fun! Especially if they are in a room with 30 other 2 year olds, for an entire hour.
Good thing MotherBitches kid will be moving up soon so the rest of you won't have to deal with her anymore! seriously, some people are clueless!
Ugh, stupid Motherbitches. I used to take my daughters to storytime at the library and at times there would literally not be one child listening. I think that's to be expected! My kids were mostly just there for the craft and the song singing and dancing...they could get stories at home:)
Geesh! 2 year olds are not meant to sit for that long! I'd be worried if they could! Someone nneeds to take that Mama down a peg or two.
Uhhmmmmm.....did you think to check her child to make sure she was actually a living breathing human child?? Because no two year old that I've ever known could sit for an hour, story or no story!
I'm not sure exactly what I would have said, but I can guaran-damn-tee ya', I would have said something. In fact, maybe that's just what I would have said to the MB...."Are you absolutely sure that your 2 yr old is still actually breathing??"
She needs help. I can help her..hee heee
She needs help. I can help her..hee heee
Good Lord if she ever has to encounter me & my children! She would have a field day!
Oh, thank you for writing this. You're so right, and the MB clearly has control issues.
I used to teach 8th grade too! I remember thinking that I wanted my newborn to be 13 so "I least I can understand him!" This was early in my SAHM-hood.
Shoot, I can't even sit still for an hour!
And I didn't appreciate the crack she made about "it's only boys that can't sit still." Just wait till her little princess turns into a teen ager is all I have to say about that. Boys (well, most of 'em) don't carry attitudes around with them like hand bags.
I think some people just have to be mean. They have to say things that are hurtful and want you to hear. Maybe it is to goad you in to saying something too but I think it is simply to be mean.
Great post! Wow, that woman was a motherbitch! Yikes! The library obviously didn't set up the story-time to be a quiet, listen to the librarian read affair if they have toys and bubbles!
Oh sure, when my daughter was 2, she could have sat their on my lap for an hour listening to stories. But my daughter is autistic! It sounds like your two year old is interacting so wonderfully with the other kids! You must be a very proud mother!
I just feel sorry for her kid, having a Mom like that there is every likelihood they will grow up with that same killjoy attitude to life or else, if appreciative of the fact that their Mother is not fun, be miserable living with someone like that. Either way, I just feel for her child. But maybe she grew up with a mother just like that too.
It's impossible for them to sit still at that age. They're still learning how to do that, but their attention spans are very small!
omg, what a biotch! Kids have to be kids. My sister is always acting like that about my kids. She acts like I don't teach them anything, but really I just want them to be kids as long as possible. She forced her kids to grow up so fast, kinda bugs me.
what a B !!! I mean it's story time. and don't blame it on the boys cause I have seen some little girls that could give boys a run for their money.
Glad you showed some self control, otherwise there could have been a beat down in the library.
Her kids must have a whole load of fun in their little life.
Seriously. 2 year olds. An hour. Even 15 minutes for a 2 year old is a lifetime. And I have all girls.
There is a time to sit still and listen in life and there is a time in life to be just be joyous. 2 year olds have the privilege of dancing around during story time. It's their job, to have all the toddler fun they can find in life. They've got a whole lifetime ahead of them for following rules.
I always like your mother bitch stories, Shell.
ummmmm....take her picture and put her photo under the definition of motherbitch! Seriously how lame and how sorry I feel for her poor boring children!
WOw!! Now that was a real piece of work. Both my kids, both male and female, are LOUD. They are LOUD wherever we go, including the library, LOL. At least the little one is. He is learning the whole inside voice aspect though, and it's quite fun to hear him do inside voice when he should be loud and vice versa.
Thank you for this post!
Aren't little ones supposed to run around and play and have fun at these things? Socialize in their own adorable ways.
I appreciate your wanting to smack a bitch for all the mommies of boys! My four year old niece is a wild woman! She is loud and has brothers so she throws down with the boys while wearing a dress. :]
I have been known to tell parents that it's not developmentally appropriate for a 2 year old to sit for long periods of time. And I've also been known to shoot them the stank eye.
Oooh...that mom would drive me CRAZY! Who does she think she is? Seriously lady, get a life!
I would be seriously concerned about any two year old that sat in a room of thirty two year olds who were all playing nicely and he didn't get up and play with him. Just sayin!
OH EM GEE ... I probably wuld have been ejected from story time for causing a riot...That woman is just ridin on the Motherbitch karma train an when it derails maybe she will learn ...All kids are different, all kids are goofy at times and all kids derserve to be KIDS ...I have a deep dislike for people who expect so much from a 2 year old but can't even compose themselves as a descent person....
I admire your control. I would have hit her.
Motherbitch clearly unclear on the concept, and is in for a very rude awakening at some point.
FWIW, I was once told that an adult only has an attention span of about 7-11 minutes. I bet motherbitch wasn't paying dutiful attention to the playgroup librarian for the full hour!!
Yep, perfectly fitting title for that momma. Wonder what she'd think of my 3.5 year old at story time?
there is nothing that pisses me off more than a mom who doesn't have a boy being condescending about how well behaved her little girl is. Cuz I have one of each, and I know, and I know my boy is gonna get all rowdy every now and then. At the right place and right time, HE IS NOT A BRAT for doing so. He is wired that way. he needs to expend energy. And that's when I wish 5 little boys to be sent down from heaven to bless that motherbitch's life so she can learn herself a lesson!
For the love of everything holy, that woman is the epitome of motherbitch!! And by the way, cheers on your stellar self control. She's obviously insecure about her own parenting, and her precious little angel is probably going to be the terror of her preschool class. Oh yeah, and she'll be the mom the other moms want to kick in the face.
Ugh. And *eye roll*. I am a mom of girls and I see boys acting better than them and girls acting worse. What a short-sighted small-minded woman.
OMG. I have never heard the term "motherbitch" before but I LOVE it! You really need to add your definition to urban Dictionary because they have a different (worse) definition for it. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=motherbitch Oh and that woman... definitely a Motherbitch!
I gave you an award!
http://carissa8402.blogspot.com/2010/06/feelin-love.html
I'm with Cub. Chasing after a kiss sounds like more fun.
I most definitely was hoping that her child would stand up and SCREAM at the top of their lungs for no apparent reason! Dang it.
Sometimes parents think that because their kids are one way, everyone's should be like that.
Motherbitch.
I would've totally given her the "excuse me" glare with my one eyebrow arched. I hate when moms are like that. Kids aer supposed to run around and explore at that age. That is what those play/storytimes are for! Some people forget what it is like to have a child. And if their child is perfect then their child is probably going to be the child that my kid is going to beat up one day because they are too perfect.
eeeh!!!! unbelievable!! obviously this woman is the mother of JUST ONE quiet little girl.
Not all girls are quiet BTW.
My daughter can outshout and outchase her two brothers any day. She would have been the one kissing and dancing with Cub, when she was two.
Eeehh!!
Honestly. I don't know what to sya to that either!!
Oh goodness, I really wish I was in that library because I would of said something...just reading this makes my blood boil. Some parents need to pull the stick out of their asses. 30 2 year olds sitting down for a hour...ya right!
Seriously, Shell I'd like to kick that motherbitch right along with you!
Haha crazy woman. I can barely get my two year old nephew to sit quietly for a minute, let alone an hour. He loves to run around and play and explore. And if they are allowed to be up and dancing and flirting with the little girls, why stop them?
It amazes me that some people think that children are just little adults. They literally are not developed enough to be able to sit for that period of time. I probably would have told her that and made myself a new non-friend ;D I also used to teach 8th graders and your right about the noise. At lunch it was their time. Time for them to socialize at a level appropriate for their age. As long as the drama llama wasn't marching around I was good with it. Have a blessed week!
Don't we all know some motherbitches. ;)
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