We were going to go to one of those mommy matinees today. I even walked into the theater, spoke with the guy selling tickets, but it suddenly dawned on me, I didn't want to sit in a dark theater trying to keep Georgia (who had already napped) quiet for close to two hours. Not for that movie anyway. It's probably a fine movie, but not with a squirmy baby on your lap. Maybe I am just a wuse. I would've done it if it was Once. I really want to see that movie. Have any of you? Thoughts?
So instead I went to the library. I had books to renew and return. That was accomplished. Unfortunately what was also accomplished was a sheer hatred of strollers. And inadequate access to public buildings. Carting a baby is inefficient. The chest carrier isn't ideal because eventually your back is aching and you're sweating beneath the weight of the baby (she's up to 17lbs!!). Not to mention it's hard getting that wormy kid in and of that thing!
But those damn strollers! The little ones don't give you a place to put the million pound diaper bag (which in my case anyway always contains no less than 2 books and a camera) so it's either breaking your back or always about to slide off your arm while you try to maneuver the thing (and with the little strollers there's never enough room for you feet so you walk all weird with stunted steps). But the big one is no better! The wheels get caught on things so you are constantly getting stopped short and looking like a jerk. And have you ever tried getting one of those (big OR small) into or out of a non-automated door!
At the library today because I parked all the way down by the theater thinking "Well even if I don't go to the movie, I'd enjoy a stroll through town," I opted for the stroller. My only choice of strollers was the big one because Papa Daddy has the little one in his car and he's at work. So, big stroller it was. I thought, surely there'll be a ramp. Boy was I wrong. So yeah. There was an elevator. But to get to the elevator you have to maneuver through doors upon doors upon doors. Heavy doors. Awkward doors. And not a one had those handy-dandy wheelchair buttons on them, and yet, they were called "Handicapped entrances". Clearly whoever designed that library was not handicapped, nor did they consult with anyone who is.
As the daughter of a handicapped woman, as the mother of a child who potentially might not walk until well-passed the "average" walking age, the reality of that hit me hard. It was difficult. It was slow. It was frustrating. And by the time I got where I needed to go I was sweating anyway. And really, I had a choice. Not everyone HAS a choice. As evidenced by the strollers parked outside, it's clear other people have come to the same realization that it's too much of a pain in the butt to use strollers at this library. But what about those people who can't just park their wheelchairs outside???
O.K. rant over. Though not easily forgotten.
Anyhow. Funny things about Georgia. When I give her her bottle she likes to MAX and RELAX. She sprawls out like I am a beach chair and she hasn't had a vacation in a decade. If I am near a table while she is eating, she'll put her feet up on the table! It's so funny. (She also rides with her feet up on the tray in the stroller.) The other thing is that her hands are constantly going while she eats. She twirls her hair, bangs her head, or grabs my fingers and swings them around. At times I worry that she is going to give herself a black eye. She punches herself pretty hard. Do any of your kids do that? It's not freaky or weird, it just seems to relax her. Although sometimes I have to hold her hands down so she can just concentrate on her bottle. You know, just gently, not like strapped down or anything. It's really kind of funny. But I sometimes just wonder.
We were going to go to one of those mommy matinees today. I even walked into the theater, spoke with the guy selling tickets, but it suddenly dawned on me, I didn't want to sit in a dark theater trying to keep Georgia (who had already napped) quiet for close to two hours. Not for that movie anyway. It's probably a fine movie, but not with a squirmy baby on your lap. Maybe I am just a wuse. I would've done it if it was Once. I really want to see that movie. Have any of you? Thoughts?
So instead I went to the library. I had books to renew and return. That was accomplished. Unfortunately what was also accomplished was a sheer hatred of strollers. And inadequate access to public buildings. Carting a baby is inefficient. The chest carrier isn't ideal because eventually your back is aching and you're sweating beneath the weight of the baby (she's up to 17lbs!!). Not to mention it's hard getting that wormy kid in and of that thing!
But those damn strollers! The little ones don't give you a place to put the million pound diaper bag (which in my case anyway always contains no less than 2 books and a camera) so it's either breaking your back or always about to slide off your arm while you try to maneuver the thing (and with the little strollers there's never enough room for you feet so you walk all weird with stunted steps). But the big one is no better! The wheels get caught on things so you are constantly getting stopped short and looking like a jerk. And have you ever tried getting one of those (big OR small) into or out of a non-automated door!
At the library today because I parked all the way down by the theater thinking "Well even if I don't go to the movie, I'd enjoy a stroll through town," I opted for the stroller. My only choice of strollers was the big one because Papa Daddy has the little one in his car and he's at work. So, big stroller it was. I thought, surely there'll be a ramp. Boy was I wrong. So yeah. There was an elevator. But to get to the elevator you have to maneuver through doors upon doors upon doors. Heavy doors. Awkward doors. And not a one had those handy-dandy wheelchair buttons on them, and yet, they were called "Handicapped entrances". Clearly whoever designed that library was not handicapped, nor did they consult with anyone who is.
As the daughter of a handicapped woman, as the mother of a child who potentially might not walk until well-passed the "average" walking age, the reality of that hit me hard. It was difficult. It was slow. It was frustrating. And by the time I got where I needed to go I was sweating anyway. And really, I had a choice. Not everyone HAS a choice. As evidenced by the strollers parked outside, it's clear other people have come to the same realization that it's too much of a pain in the butt to use strollers at this library. But what about those people who can't just park their wheelchairs outside???
O.K. rant over. Though not easily forgotten.
Anyhow. Funny things about Georgia. When I give her her bottle she likes to MAX and RELAX. She sprawls out like I am a beach chair and she hasn't had a vacation in a decade. If I am near a table while she is eating, she'll put her feet up on the table! It's so funny. (She also rides with her feet up on the tray in the stroller.) The other thing is that her hands are constantly going while she eats. She twirls her hair, bangs her head, or grabs my fingers and swings them around. At times I worry that she is going to give herself a black eye. She punches herself pretty hard. Do any of your kids do that? It's not freaky or weird, it just seems to relax her. Although sometimes I have to hold her hands down so she can just concentrate on her bottle. You know, just gently, not like strapped down or anything. It's really kind of funny. But I sometimes just wonder.