We skipped the monthly library homeschool meeting today. Bridget always enjoys it but Owen and I don't like it as much since we're more on the introverted side. I always have fun but at the same time it's very draining for me. There's so many people, so much noise, so many conversations. I always feel slightly cranky and like I need a nap afterward. I know it sounds weird to enjoy something and be stressed out by it at the same time so maybe only those who feel the same way will get what I'm talking about. Or I'm just weird :-D Also, the last time we were there Owen asked every 20 minutes if we could leave. I think all the talking is too noisy for him, poor guy. If both kids loved it and it was just me I'd keep going but since he doesn't like it, we're going to pass. Also, it's not like it's our only social opportunity for the poor, dear, "kept in a closet" homeschoolers ;-) Bridget does love it, but she enjoys almost every social event we go to (and there are lots!), so it's not like I'm depriving her of her favorite thing or anything. If she asks about it we'll go again, but for now, I'm not planning on attending.

The other three Mondays of the month are fiber arts and we all enjoy that :-) It's usually only 4 or 5 families and it's in a house (a different host every week) so there's more freedom to run around and do what you want. Next week is at a really good friend's house. I can't wait!

We had to run some freecycle errands today and somehow we ended up at Dunkin Donuts. Next thing I know, Bridget is firing word problems at me! Ack! Now, it's great that she is enjoying math so much lately but can she have some compassion for her poor, school-scarred, slightly math phobic mom? There's always that little drop in the pit of my stomach when someone recites a word problem. I guess it wasn't so bad, especially since she started off with a really easy one that I could answer LOL! Plus, with my daughter, I have no problem saying "I can't do that one in my head". No getting yelled at by the evil Mrs. Marcantonio and humiliated in front of the class when I don't know the answer.

We went back and forth with her giving me some and me giving her some and then we somehow segued into a conversation on intelligence (one we've had before). We discussed how they (whoever "they" are) used to think that if you were smart you were smart in everything and if you weren't, you weren't. Now (most) people know that intelligence isn't so cut and dried. There are many different ways a person can be intelligent. The same person can have a good mind for math but not read so well or vice versa. Of course then I got stuck in what the different categories of intelligence are. Maybe I'll look that up later.

After getting the freecycle items we came home, parked and took a walk to the library. The kids got videos, Bridget got another Asterix and I spent 10 minutes being educated by the children's librarian on the Gauls and Romans, LOL! The woman amazes me. I just knew that she would have answers to my questions and she did. She always does. I swear I have yet to find something this woman doesn't know about, LOL!

Anyway, she helped me find a bunch of books on the Romans and "the Barbarians". There weren't any on the Gauls in particular but we did find some info on the Celts in general. All of this is for me to read. In part so the next time (and the next and the next) Bridget looks up from an Asterix comic and asks me a question I might have the answer, but also in part because I find this stuff interesting myself :-D

While we were in the library Owen had to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately they were in use so we had to wait. Nearby was the downstairs librarian sitting at a table checking in new books. He and a friend of his were chatting in another language. Owen asked me "How are they talking?" and I told him I didn't know and did he want to ask. He did. So (this is a total first for me) I went over with Owen and said "Excuse me, he was wondering what language you were speaking". The man told me it was Phillipino and next thing I know he's being so friendly! This guy is always in the basement, he almost never talks and I think I've seen him smile once. He's not mean or rude (he let us in the bathroom once after they had been locked because the library was closing), he's just never been overly warm, yk? Well, he started chatting with Owen and showing him what he was doing (putting library stamps and pressed seals on new books) and just smiling away at my little boy. Then when the men's room opened up he nicely suggested we go in there instead of waiting for the women's. I swear, it's more words than I've heard from this man in all the years we've seen him there! And all because I asked him what language he was speaking? And there I was, worried I was being rude to ask, LOL!