Recently Robyn was called to be the Young Women's camp director. This means that until June she goes into class with the Young Women on Sundays so that she can get to know them better as she puts together everything for camp. What this means for me is that I'm in charge of the sunbeams all by myself. I'm pretty sure this means the Lord wants me to learn one of two things:
1. Children are much too scary. I am clearly not qualified to have any of my own.
2. Children are a piece of cake. If I can handle 6 sunbeams then having our own kids should be a breeze. Especially since we get to have them one at a time, and I don't have to do it by myself.
I'm not sure which way it's gonna go. For the most part it hasn't been too difficult, but I still reserve the right to flee in terror.
That being said, they are pretty cute. I have a few stories to share that gave me glimpses into their creative minds.
Play Doh
I brought out the Play Doh for the first time this year. The kids are getting a little bit more mature so that they don't make a ridiculous mess. They were excited out of their minds to be able to play. One boy was trying to mash his Play Doh as flat as possible, so he climbed up on his chair and kneeled on it. I stopped him as fast as I could, but it was too late, the Play Doh was already bonded to his pants at a molecular level. I told him he couldn't kneel on it anymore, he could only use his hands.
"Can I sit on it?" No
"Can I stand on it?" No
"Can I use my head?" No, your head is not your hands.
I almost said yes to the last one, just for my own amusement, but I decided against it.
Coolest Thing Ever
This actually happened a few weeks ago when Robyn was still with me. Robyn was telling the story of the Savior walking on water. She got to the point where he was about to walk on water and she said, "And then he did something really cool." But before she could say what that really cool thing was, one of the children thought in his mind what could be the coolest thing that Jesus could possibly do. He blurted out, "A backflip!" Robyn was a bit taken aback and said, "Well, if there had been a need for a back flip I'm sure he could have done it." She then explained that he walked on the water. But the kids were disappointed. He didn't even do a back flip.
It's amazing to me how their little minds work. They aren't limited by the box that we "grownups" seem to be trapped inside so often. Maybe we should try flattening Play Doh with our heads. How can we know it's not effective if we don't try it?
One Year Later
1 year ago
They are cute aren't they! I'm am sad I don't get to be with them for a while, but the YW have a whole different level of interesting.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I understand wanting to let the kids try stuff like flatten play-dough with their heads. With my nieces and nephews I let them do awesome things that their parents don't let them do just to see what will happen. Keep having fun with them and, who knows, you might just realize that you are up to the challenge.
ReplyDeleteIt really is too bad Jesus didn't do a backflip...but walking on water is awesome too. I'm excited for little Jeffs and Robyns to be running around. Stop being scared of kids!
ReplyDeleteI am banking on #2. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you put little kids creative minds together with your creative mind and you will all be creating crazy things like inner tube space ships that take you to Disneyland or even more fun stuff!!
ReplyDeleteback flips are cool, for sure.
ReplyDeleteJust sing along "Jesus wants ME for a Sunbeam...". Although, YOU flattening plah doh with your head would probably shake up the Primary Pres. I've seen you with kids. Awesome Dad material.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten? Same moral told in also a very amusing way.
ReplyDelete