Monday, September 22, 2008

Infant Toddler Sunday School

I lead infant toddler Sunday school at church this week all by myself. No, literally - Ruth and her family were out of town (for a very significant exciting event, not vacation {though vacation's not a bad excuse to be out of town, either} ) and Hazel had a severe case of the "green 11's" ( a friends polite way of saying snotty nose) so James had to stay home with her, and I was left to this little 30 minute slot of allotted time that all week seemed like nothing, and Sunday morning seemed big and scary and totally out of my realm of capability.
Okay, so not really either, since Ruth had sent me a very detailed list of what to do and how to do it. I was just making a mountain out of a mole hill in my head.
But here's what happened:
People started filtering in for the 1030 class around 1035. We all signed in and took nametags, sang some Jolly Jesus tunes, and then, the spotlight turned bright on me. I am not generally reluctant to get in the spotlight, but here I was, with all these people - parents - who want to learn from me how to help their child recognize the faithful, and how to be faithful in their own lives. Now, I certainly realize that anyone signing up for something that enormous to come paper packaged in a 25 minute Sunday school class that you bring your infants and toddlers to is non-existent.
But, I still felt the pressure like I was surrounded by a room full of them.
Announcements went smoothly, pictures went relatively smoothly - or as smooth as to be expected for a room full of infants, toddlers, and parents, and the craft went alright I thought. All things that I was left to do by Ruth-the-magnificent. Then came my parent topic.
Did anyone have any thoughts or insights from last weeks Faithful Thoughts for Parents of Tots handout?

…..*paper rustling, crayons drawing*…….

Did anyone get the chance to look over last weeks FTPT?

…..chirp chirp………

Okay, so well, um, this week the topic is how do you and your co-parent/partner/spouse/and whatever-the-hell-else-is-P.C.-person do now or want to incorporate into your daily living that encourages you to think about your Christian faith together?

……….we say bedtime prayers with our son………

…we sing Jesus loves me with our baby………..

……I read the morning prayer (on the parent handout for parents to do together) with my CHILD on the way to church this morning………..

In the completely inappropriate (almost) immortal words of my husbands delightful grandfather…

"Jesus Christ in a rowboat - up the crick without his God-damned paddle!"

What did I miss? Maybe this desire to reach marriages and build faith development opportunities is lost on the milk-frazzled, diaper-training, sleep-deprived, under-nourished (with the exception of goldfish crackers and coffee) brains of parents of infants and toddlers. Maybe I am crazy to have tried.
So, back to class - crickets chirped, stickers stuck to parents rumps, and slowly, parents asked for 2nd copies of last weeks FTPT along with the new one. Did they pity me in my efforts? Possibly. Should I worry? I can, and probably will - but I know it's a mustard seed in the hearts of the willing. I can't force people to look into their unique relationships and carve out valuable time together that, God and all parents know is more preciously spent catching zzz's or having your monthly ball bursting, clock watching sex, to talk about your faith. I just hope and pray some of them are thinking about wanting to find the time to talk about it.
That's all.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I LOVE reading you! Your views are GREAT and your words are extrememly entertaining!