I'm highly irritated today.
This morning I got the kids ready and we headed to the library down the street to see a reptile show. I had talked to the boys about it and of course they were thrilled! They couldn't wait to see the snakes and other creatures.
We get there and there are red signs everywhere that say "no strollers past this point." Of course this guy stops me and says I need to park my stroller by the door. I politely asked if there was an area closer to where the boys would be sitting so that I could watch them and still be with the girls. He tells me I can stand by the door with the stroller and the boys can sit 40 feet away, out of my sight. I asked if there handicapped seating and he said "of course." I asked if I could park the stroller near there. I told him I didn't care if I could see the show, I just wanted to be able to see the boys.
You can see where this is going, right? He told me to take the girls out of the stroller. I asked him what I was supposed to do with them? Hold them both myself the entire time? I mean, yeah, I could put them in the Mei Tai but it's a freaking million degrees out and I was already drenched in sweat from having to push 3 kids in a stroller across the parking lot. There is no way in hell that the girls would sit still or even stay in one place if I put them down. What if J has to go to the bathroom? What if M has one of his episodes and I have to run after him?
The guys tells me to ask someone to hold one of the babies for me. ummm, yeah. "Hey, random stranger? Can you hold one of my cute little babies?" I don't think so.
So that was it. We left. He told me maybe I shouldn't try to go places by myself with that many children. EXCUSE ME???? I wouldn't take all 4 kids by myself to an amusement park by myself. Or a pool. Or some place that I did not think would be "kid-friendly" or even "stroller-friendly. But the library? Come on! It's not like I just had 1 kid sitting in a stroller and didn't want to take him out. I had my hands full. Can you see my with my purse, diaper bag, 2 babies strapped to me, and holding 2 kids' hands?
Maybe I'm overreacting? What do the rest of you do? When your babies were little did you not use the stroller if strollers were not allowed? Did you carry multiple infant carriers by yourself? Did you sling a bunch of babies? Did you just let them all run free as toddlers? Do you just not leave the house by yourself? Please, tell me your secrets! Obviously I am doing something wrong here!
Now I've got 2 angry little boys. J declared that he wanted to "throw that mean man away." M is pissed at me for not bringing the stroller in anyway. The girls are cranky for being dragged out in the heat. And I'm mad that I wasted $5 in gas to drive there and all I succeeded in doing was putting everyone in a bad mood.
ETA: I got an email from a mom in my local MOMs club who recognized me. She overheard my conversation with the library manager and sent me an encouraging email. She also said that there were 2 other moms that were allowed to bring in their single strollers after I left. I'm even more irritated now and I'm definitely going to follow up with my complaint.
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Always us???
1 hour ago
10 comments:
I am livid for you.
That man should be smacked.
A library, of all places, should be family friendly. I am afraid I would have to write a strongly worded letter.....
I feel so bad for you. I have 3 little ones..none of them multiples, but I can't make it without my stroller either. I would do some serious complaining to the Head Librarian/Manager or whatever their title is. I would call for sure.
That is ridiculous. And whatever happened to the Customer is Right policy? They should be worried about your convenience and comfort, not their's. It's not everybody who comes in that has twins, so geez oh peets make an exception.
Going anywhere is a big ordeal for us. And 2 of mine are BIGGER. I'm always sweating and frustrated by the time I get home. But the worst thing is when the kids get let down and don't get to go to something that they are looking forward to. It sucks.And we have to drive home hearing the crying.
OMFG!!! WTF!!?? I agree, a letter is definitely needed, I know it is more work on your part but I think it could really make a difference. Especially at such a small library, they have got to listen to your complaint/suggestion. I am so sorry for M and J, I know how much they love reptiles. Next time call me!! I'll come meet you and help do baby patrol. I'm sorry Heather!!
That is just nuts! Thats totally mommy discrimination! I am in shock that he told you that you should not go out with the kids without help....UGH..Now I am cranky. BTW thanks for visiting my blog and thanks for the nice comments on my Etsy. :)
I would be mad! I would write a letter to the main(central) library, even the local paper, telling how awful you were treated. You have every right to bring a stroller into the library, thats ridiculous. We bring our stroller all the time.
Thats really, really BS.
I have four kids, also--no twins, but my last two are pretty close in age. There were a couple of years there where I could have used a triple stroller, for sure, but we had our double at all times. I was only told one time (at a NATURE CENTER!!! ARGGG) that we couldnt bring "that big stroller in here". I was all flustered, in tears, and wrote them a letter. I got a call back and a letter of apology.
A Library?? Insane. We are famous at our library for our big loads of books we get (laundry basket in the backseat of the double stroller, overflowing) and for having "so many" kids.
Please consider writing a letter so the ignorance is smacked out of that guy and the whole staff. If we were told not to go places with so many children, we would be in quite a pickle, as we homeschool, when you see me, you see my 4 kidlets! Period!
So sorry you went through this! Love your blog!
That is just so wrong. What - should you just sit at home with your kids and never go out? How incredibly unfair, especially since they let strollers in after you.
I remember looking at a brochure for a LLL convention in our state and the rule was no stollers unless you had multiples or some physical disability that would keep you from realistically being able to carry your child/children. That struck me as fair.
Let us know how that pans out! Arrrgghhhhhh!
I'm angry for you as well!!! I would call the library and speak to the individual in charge and explain what happened and file a complaint and tell them they need a policy for situations like this regarding strollers, etc. Which libray was it?
If this had happened to me when my twins were younger than 18 months, I might have actually started crying - with the hormones, sleep deprivation, total exhaustion from chasing them around, etc.
I probably would have done what you did - the first time. After that, I'd go in with the stroller anyway. Seriously, what are they going to do? Grab you or your children physcially? Doubtful. Call the police? Bring it on as long as there is no law you are breaking.
For now, I would not even bother writing to the manager's supervisor. Here is what I would do:
1. Determine what governing board appoints the library board (the school board, the city or county commission, etc.).
2. Write every one of those memebers. Make sure to tell the ones you actually vote for that you are their constituent. If you do not know this information, you can look it up online and probably your local Republican or Democratic Party volunteers can help you. (I on the board of my local GOP and can rattle this information off the top of my head.)
3. Follow up with phone calls to the elected officials to find out what they are doing to correct the situation.
4. If necessary, write an editorial in the paper (keep it fairly short) and ask your friend who witnessed it to do the same.
5. Get your MOM club members to write to the elected officials as well to explain their frustatation.
6. You might even consider contacting the National MOTC to see if they have any suggestions on how to affect change.
My twins are 4 1/2 now. I do not have any other children so I never had the logistical complexities you have. I used my double stroller a lot. Even in the parking lot from the car to preschool. They would shoot off in different directions and the stroller was my best offensive strategy to keep them safe and me sane. I never used the single stroller and a carrier. I did use a carrier at the grocery store while one was in the cart. When they were toddlers, most of our outings were to contained areas i.e. playgroups, tumbling classes, etc.
take your complaint as high as you can go! that is riduculous. I have been shlepping strollers around places for 20 years and have never been told not to take one (except into a ride at Disneyland but that's understandable)
Sheesh!! What an awful man!
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