Parents Need to Relax and Recharge

When we are in the trenches of the day-to-day juggling act that parenting is, we often forget that underneath our Mom and Dad hats are really two people. It gets so easy to put the kids first that we often do it automatically, forgetting about each other and ourselves. This came to mind this past week when we had a patron come in, flushed and excited. She told us that she was going on a date later in the evening. The joy she expressed was contagious.

The same day I scheduled myself a pedicure. It’s only the second that I have ever had. It was a wonderful luxury. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It made going home and accomplishing all those tasks I needed to get done a lot more enjoyable.

It really is the little pleasures that we allow ourselves, either with a partner or by ourselves, which help recharge and renew us. Everyone needs a little rest and relaxation. It would be nice to be spontaneous, but if the right time never seems to arrive, schedule it. You’ll find that you feel a bit lighter and more relaxed. Maybe you’ll inspire someone else to do the same and spread some of that contagious joy around.

Hi to all my friends in Mrs. Mirisola’s class!

Last week I was reminded about the importance of reading aloud to children. I was invited to be a guest reader at Derynoski Elementary School. My assigned class was Mrs. Mirisola’s afternoon kindergarten class. The children were so excited to be read to.

Kindergarten age children are still filled with the joy and wonder of everything new, including a new book and even a new person. When your children get older, you forget the many wonderful things about each of the different ages. It’s nice to be reminded.

I asked the children if they were learning to read yet. Most of them said yes. One little boy raised his hand and said that he wasn’t reading on his own yet. He was so serious and sincere. I told him that if he kept practicing I was sure that he would read some day soon.

That’s one of the great things about reading aloud to your children. There is no pressure to read correctly, carefully sounding out the words, or trying to figure out the intended meaning. When you read to your children, you can talk about the stories. Ask your questions and get them involved with the story and with you. Reading aloud provides parents and children an opportunity to sit close and share the joy of a terrific book.

This experience has prompted me to get together a list of terrific read-a-louds. There are a lot of great books out there, but there are some that really shine when read aloud. I’m going to work on my list in the coming weeks and will let you know when it is ready.

My First Blog Post

I’m actually starting this blog at a class to learn how to create your own blog. How appropos! I really wanted to find an interactive way to communicate with the parents of Southington. I hope to be able to help you get to know your town library, your Children’s Librarian (me) and all the materials and services that we offer.

I am also the mother of two and have always been intersted in parenting tips, techniques and skills. I’d like to combine my love of reading, knowledge of the library and interest in parenting in this one blog. I hope to hear from everyone and get to know you and your families, while you are getting to know the library and me.