Ms. Elaine Kneeous
Jennifer is a one in a million stay-at-home mom. (More like one OF a million stay at home moms!) She graduated from a liberal arts college but there is nothing liberal OR artsy about her. She is married to Kevin Fischer of This Just In, and together they have a beautiful toddler daughter Kyla Audrey. In no particular order she loves dogs, wine, a good bargain, her family, pizza, and entertaining. Follow her blog of all things miscellaneous including but not limited to cooking and baking, entertaining and party planning, being a mommy, and homekeeping.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Kyla and I go to the Franklin Public Library often. She used to love going there even more until someone had the brilliant idea to move the kitchen play area behind closed doors instead of being fully accessible for all kids at all times. But I digress.
She knows that every time we go there, she will be able to pick out some new DVD’s to watch for the week. (Never mind that she has her own personal collection… borrowing and returning; putting returns in the slots; THAT’S where the fun is!)
At first glance someone might think that all I do is let Kyla watch movies, for how many we take out at a time. But you see, I have to do that… generally at least half of those movies will be un-watchable when we get home.
I can’t tell you how many times Kyla has been so excited to watch a new Dora or Angelina movie only to be terribly disappointed when it doesn’t play. At all. When I turn the disk over I can immediately see why. There are more scratches on them than a 20-year-old car door! I can not believe the condition these movies are in and it makes me crazy. Recently I had to literally wash off chocolate fingerprints from the playing side of a disk!
I understand the appeal of the movies to little hands. The cases are bright and have pictures of the characters on them. The boxes themselves are relatively easy to open and it is amazing how easily the disk can come off of the little button in the center. Like most kids her age, Kyla knows how to work the DVD player as easily as I do. She wants to be the one to put the movie in and press the buttons.
Our rule, though, is she can only press the button when Mommy is there, and the movie is already in. She is not allowed to handle the disks, even with her OWN movies. I tell her often that it is important she take care of, and respect, her things as well as things that DON’T belong to her. So many things, I believe, could be better with a healthy dose of respect. Think about it.
One more thing… Parents, don’t be afraid to turn in a defunct disk to the circulation desk. Take it out of the running for other families and save them the disappointment of a useless movie. Trust me; the librarian will not bill you for a new disk. They will thank you and give you a look that says, “I’m not surprised.” You will be out nothing but a few seconds of your time. Truly.
I would love to think that this simple blog would be enough to change the habits of everyone who borrows movies from a library. I’m not that naive. But even if one parent stops one child from ruining one movie through carelessness, then I’ve helped my cause. Really, is it THAT difficult?
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