My husband got his current job in Omaha when our son Oliver was about three months old. We moved from the Kansas City area and I also left the work force and became a stay-at-home mom. My husband is from Omaha originally, so for him, he was just coming home. But for me, it was a huge change… on top of the huge change of becoming a mother for the first time.
I was desperate to make connections but was not sure where to even begin since the majority of my friends were made through work. I stumbled across the OPL website and calendar and saw that they had storytimes specifically designed for little babies (I assumed that storytime was only for older children, starting around 3). I decided to check it out and we ended up at the Willa Cather Branch even though it is further from our house than other locations. I will forever be thankful for going to Willa Cather!!!
Ms. Linnie, the librarian, was warm, welcoming, and easy to talk to… At this point we had been in Omaha for about a month and I literally only had my husband and mother-in-law to talk to. I was desperate for other adult conversation.
Over time, many strong friendships within the group have developed regardless of how different each of our circumstances might be. As a group, we have been there for each other through good times and rough times. For instance, my son Oliver, started having unexplained seizures a year ago. This group gave both myself and my son an opportunity to take a break from doctors, therapists, and tests. It gave him a chance to just be a little boy and myself an outlet for venting my worries.
And our librarian, Ms. Linnie, is absolutely amazing. She not only corrals a roomful of toddlers and their chatty mothers but she loves each and every child. She takes the time to listen and ask how everyone is doing.
Here’s one of my favorite pictures of Oliver (He is two now and this was taken when he was a little over a year old). He is sitting at Ms. Linnie’s feet utterly and completely transfixed by her! He LOVES her so much!!! He doesn’t go to many people but he will cozy up to her, climb on her lap, or ask to be picked up by her ALL THE TIME!
Guest Post by Adrianne Heithoff
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