You know that stillness that accompanies a fresh snow, as if a blanket has fallen and hushed the entire world? That stillness is akin to what happens in our little world following a trip to our beloved library.
Don’t get me wrong, while we are actually in the library, my little poppies are anything but still. They fly around from shelf to shelf, dumping books into their bags as fast as they can. They chatter excitedly, sharing new finds with each other and fighting over who gets to read what first.
As we wait in line to check out, they each sprawl on the floor beneath my feet. When they are called to the counter they beg and plead for the librarian to please please please “not mix the books” and whoever the librarian is that day always smiles and honors their requests. The librarians understand that library day is a treasure hunt of the utmost importance to my little crew. I love the literary interchange between my children and the librarians: discussion of books read recently, book recommendations, interesting tidbits about certain authors, comments on illustrations. Once the books are secured in the appropriate bags, it’s a mad-dash to our car. Sometimes, the mad-dash includes reading.
But, once in the car? Silence. Complete and total silence. They do not make a sound for the entire drive home.
When we pull into the garage, the kids get out of the car without any quarreling. They work together to lug the book bags up the stairs and then they head to the predetermined location. Typically, it is a snuggle party in Leo’s room. Today, however, they couldn’t get past the kitchen. You see, we are usually at the library two or three times each week but with recent illness, we’ve had a library dry spell. They dropped the books on the kitchen floor and read immediately.
The silence continued, uninterrupted, until I suggested a game of Parcheesi. Complete, total, uninterrupted silence: no wonder we go to the library so often! And, to think: this peace and stillness doesn’t cost a thing!
Tell me parents, how to you bring peace to your chaos-filled day? Do you have a silence guarantee? Is library day a peaceful day in your home? Share your stories and silence tips here!
Are you looking to take your family’s read alouds to the next level? Join the {virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies:
All of the books (and more!) from the {virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies can be found here:
All of the lessons, crafts, and activities based on each book can be found here, listed by title and author:
Visit Cait Fitz @ My Little Poppies’s profile on Pinterest.
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Silence is a true friend who never betrays.
~Confucius
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Our son loves the library too. But in our house what guarantees complete silence and room cleaning is a new lego set. We just went through a very anxiety provoking experience for A. His reward for showing up and trying his best was a new lego set. He’s been in his room for 3 hours very happily building. This happens also, when his mind comes up with a new scenario that MUST be created with Legos. The more complicated the scenario, the longer the peace lasts.
Oh, Legos! Aren’t they the best? Such a timeless classic. I loved them as a kid and I love watching my kids play with them.
Oh, how I love Library Day. It is the quietest car ride of my week, and quietest rest of the day. I’ve learned through experience to make sure we plan to go on the days the girls do not have afternoon activities, because it is pretty much impossible to get anyone to leave the house after returning from the library!
I sure hope our paths cross this summer because you are describing our life. I never hit up the library on Tuesday, as it’s our busiest day. And I often use the library as a bribe 🙂