Monday, October 26, 2009

Little Red Mailbox & Other Thoughts

Several months ago we started our own little mail system when we happened to find these cute little mailboxes. Now when there is something on the children's minds I can expect to find a letter in my mailbox. So far most of them were little love notes and my box where I am saving them is starting to bulge. I really like the system and am looking forward to continuing to use it for years to come.


The mailboxes in the girls rooms, where one of them has a note from Mom waiting to be read.
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Recently we took  Sailor and Rosebud to the library and let them get their own library card. They were excited at the thought of being responsible for their own books. Sailor of-course chose a book on building ships and has been poring over it in his spare moments and is in danger of knowing it by heart by the time the book is due back.

After we got home I finally got to read the lengthy list of rules they had given us. And I have been thinking about them since. Somehow I think it's really sad that somewhere along line it was necessary to establish some of these rules. For example rule five states that no bathing is allowed in the restroom. Really?! I can't imagine how anyone could possibly dream up a rule like that unless someone actually tried it. Rule 25 states that it is prohibited to leave a child under the age of 18 after closing time. I can not imagine trying to leave my children there unattended at any time.

After reading the list I am happy to know I am not in any danger of breaking any of their rules and I'm hoping we can conduct ourselves in a manner that no new rules are required because of our conduct on their premises.
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After the suggestion of a friend, I will be starting to add a label to each memory post stating the age I was.

15 comments:

  1. What a cute idea the mailbox thing is:) I also remember getting my first library card!!

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  2. I love the mailboxes. When my brother was a kid he would pretend to be a mailman and deliver letters from my mom to us kids and vice versa. With all the mail adults get, I think there's something kids love about getting something that is just for them!

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  3. I think your mailbox idea is wonderful. I'm sure you will have a lot of treasured notes over the years. When my parent's passed on and I was going through their things, I came across little notes that I had written them when I was a small child. They had held on to them for years.
    Sunny :)

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  4. My girls do make mailboxes all the time out of random boxes that will show up in our home - then I forget to leave them notes and get in trouble, oops! I love the idea it is so sweet, and just is such an encouragement to the reciever of a kind note.

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  5. As one who works at a library, I can tell you those things happen all the time.

    Because the library is a public building with heat and running water and comfortable places to sit down, homeless people often spend much of their time there. Yes, they bathe in the sinks of the public bathrooms there. They have nowhere else to do it.

    Parents also leave their children of all ages unattended at the library all the time. They seem to consider it a free babysitting service. Obviously it is not that and leaving children unattended in a public place such as this is a very dangerous practice even in a small town like the one where I live.

    It is very sad indeed that these rules are necessary.

    The mailbox idea is very clever. What a fun way to keep in touch with your children. :)

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  6. Great ideas -- both the mailboxes and labeling your post with your age at that time.

    Have a great day.

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  7. Darling! What a wonderful idea, those cute little mailboxes!
    But really...bathing in the library bathroom?? Whoda thunk?? That's just strange....
    Sharon

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  8. Where did you find those mailboxes? My son has been begging me for mailboxes so we can send each other mail. I can't find any like that anywhere.

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  9. This is an awesome idea. I just shared it with my daughter. She homeschools my three precious grand-daughters and is always looking for creative ways to keep them interested and growing. They started working on the attributes of a Godly Girl recently. I can see her using the mailboxes for special messages about being a Godley Girl.

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  10. We have had to come up with a lot of odd rules at our library because over the years, many people have done strange things. The "no bathing" rule in the restroom is mainly a problem with homeless people. Some drink in the bathroom too, and leave empty beer cans. And yes, we have had to call parents to have them come pick up their children, some too young to have been left at the library to begin with! It is amazing what you see when you deal with the public.

    But I am so glad the children got their own cards, and just know that it will continue to foster their love of books. :-)

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  11. Those rules almost seem silly! But like you said - they must have had to make the rules because SOMEONE tried it!
    How sad.

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  12. I will start using your mailbox idea starting tonight. What a great idea! Thanks. :D

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  13. I love the mailbox idea.
    Good plan to put your age on the memory posts.
    I often wonder how some rules came to be because they just seem so obvious.

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  14. No bathing in the bathroom at the library? Well being originally from New York, the only thing I think of is maybe the library has a problem with homeless people and, well, I won't go there.

    Cute mail boxes for your girls. Cute Idea. Enjoy your day!

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  15. I'm enjoying reading through your posts! I just had to comment on this one. I used to work at a small town library in Mississippi. We had to start keeping the bathrooms locked because a few people would bathe in them and leave a big mess.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.