Take the high road?

We just returned from a less-than-stellar visit to our local library. Permit me to share:

We went with the intent of participating in the Thursday toddler story time that Sammy and Brie both enjoy. For some reason, this particular "library event" requires that you get a ticket at the circulation desk before you can participate. Well, when we arrived (with five whole minutes to spare...I actually patted myself on the back for getting there early!), the tickets were all spoken for. And--you guessed it--Sammy wanted nothing to do with the library, the books, the big stuffed Clifford dog or the plethora of crayons. He only wanted to go to story time. Since that wasn't an option, we left. At least, we tried to...

Once Sammy realized we were going back to the car, he got pretty upset. He started to cry; pulled my arm to go back into the library; and implemented the best plan of attack for a toddler: began to flail on the ground. He was making quite a scene, but there was not much I could do...reasoning with him would not have worked and I could not pick him up since I was wearing Brie in the Bjorn.

Just then, I caught sight of an elderly woman walking our way from her car. A glimmer of hope? Old ladies like kids, right? Maybe she was coming over to pat me on the shoulder and at the very least console me with, "We've all been there, honey. It gets easier." But no. Instead, the aforementioned senior citizen began yelling, "Keep it away from me! Keep it away from me!" At first, I thought, "Is she talking about Sammy?" but then it became abundantly obvious that she definitely was referring to my sad, story time-less 2-year-old as "it."

I had to clarify! I looked at her and asked, "It"?? And she replied, "Yes, keep IT away from me! I'm not walking well lately." I guess she was worried that my little guy might tip her over! It could happen, I suppose... Regardless, her rudeness was blatant in my book and I was hurt and left to decide how to respond.

I wondered what she was expecting me to do. Surely, a young whipper snapper like myself was sure to mouth off. Or maybe she was trying to make me angry? Then I briefly contemplated the opposite approach--whether I should do unto others and start a friendly dialog about the terrible twos with her. But in the end, I took the high road and said nothing. It took all of my will power not to say, "Just because you're as old as dirt doesn't give you the right to be a mean, ol' fart!" but maybe she wouldn't have heard me anyway...

Luckily, by the time I got Sammy to the car...part walking with resistance-part modified fireman's carry, a KIND older woman came over and helped me lift Sammy into the car. Like most Durham folks, she was very helpful!

I can't help but ask, "How do you get to be old, mean and bitter like that?" Couldn't she see that Sammy was a kindred spirit--a child who loves the library and has to be dragged away kicking and screaming? Surely, she should understand since she was around when libraries were invented!

So I guess I'm glad that I took the high road, though I still can see myself saying something to that woman if I spot her at the library in the future. If I do have the opportunity, I'll likely say, "Look at these two faces. Aren't they sweet? They certainly aren't at the library to make your life more difficult. And they're definitely not 'its'!"