Mothers’ wishes

CRIS EVERT LATO-RUFFOLO

Thursday is now library day for the mutants, and we spend an entire afternoon reading books, painting animals and making figures out of play dough.

It was raining when we left Liloan for the Cebu City Public Library (CCPL) but that did not dampen my children’s spirits from telling me the books that they want to read the moment they arrive at the Children’s Corner.

Travel time from Liloan to Cebu City usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic.

On worst traffic days, it can even stretch to three hours. I love the CCPL. It has been my sanctuary in the last 12 years.

However, I wish Liloan, the town where I live, would have its own library as well. I have repeatedly wrote about my willingness to volunteer my time if we have one in town.

I hope Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco considers this as a project.

I would be willing to help out in gathering books and training storytellers.

My good friend, Louie Zabala, a librarian, is sure to help me out in this worthwhile endeavor.

I have been writing about libraries and green spaces (read: parks) in Cebu because I am really tired of the concrete jungle Cebu has become. Libraries and parks provide a breather that we all need from this hectic life.

I appreciate what has been done in Plaza Independencia but Cebu needs more parks initiated and built by the local government

I write this with the bias of a mother who just want spaces for her children to run and have fun in commune with nature.

On Thursday at the CCPL, the mutants chose their own books and found areas where they sat down and read.

Since I take them to the library on Thursdays, I decided to volunteer my time for an activity called “Toddler Storytime” with two sessions; one at 2 p.m. and another at 3 p.m.

I thought no parent or child will join us because the rainy weather was perfect for staying at home.

At around 2:30 p.m., three mothers with their three children arrived at the Children’s Corner.

They just “discovered” that the library has a corner especially meant for children.

We had stories, songs and dances. In attendance were Jonnah Codilla Maningo with 2.5-year-old daughter Daphne; Shwainey Aking with 1.7-year-old Shahzana; and Pris Gena Kuizon with eight-month-old Jin.

It was an afternoon of comparing tantrum notes, swapping motherhood stories and dreaming about more libraries and parks for our children.

I love sessions like this; six children with four mothers sharing experiences we have in common and providing each other the support we need even if it is only the first time for us to meet.

Mothers have an unspoken bond that also involves wishes for more libraries and parks.

I am glad I left Liloan last Thursday for that long ride to the city.