So a few months ago we all had some fun speculating what new calling Neil and I would have in church. Then, I made the big announcement and silently kept telling myself that Neil and I would be just fine teaching primary. Then came several more posts that it turns out that 6 year olds are mean and make me cry. However, after several weeks of feeling like an utter failure I finally accepted the fact that it wasn’t going to be easy and began rolling with the punches. Well, things have changed a bit.
It all started with a message from the primary president on New Years day. The message went something like this, “I need to talk to you about something. So please call me back when you get a chance. As you know we are having 40 sunbeams coming into primary. Anyway, just call me and we can talk.” Let’s just say we knew what was coming even though she tried to be as cryptic as possible. We now teach 10 three year olds every Sunday. I honestly thought after our last class I could handle anything. But then I forgot about the developmental phase that three year olds are in. They don’t yet understand manners and appropriate behaviors. So we spent the entire time saying things like “Don’t shove your neighbor off their chair” and “put your shoes back on” and “can you go potty by yourself?” Anyway, I’ve only taught them for one week but I left more discouraged then ever. So any advice is more than welcome.
On a side note, I went to my Mom to ask for her advice on how to reach the sunbeams and actually teach them something. After a long conversation my Mom eventually said something like “I don’t know why they are even having you teach the sunbeams, they should at least have a parent teach them. You don’t even have kids!” Now, I know what she meant by this but I still find it quite humorous. I think she is right though, I don’t think we are very qualified for this position. But it takes a lot to get fired from these things. Interestingly enough, I have tried to change my perspective on this situation. I keep telling myself this is a good calling because it is teaching me about kids. I think the man upstairs is preparing us for something. For now though, I am just taking it as a warning of what NOT to get myself into……
4 comments:
You can do it! Honestly, you are very brave to go into a room with 10 sunbeams. :) At that age they're full of energy and don't quite know how to follow directions in a group situation. I'm sure it'll take a few weeks of trying different things, but you'll figure out what works.
And about your mom's comment...just realize that even the parents have to figure out how to get the best behavior out of their kids at each new age. It's a learning curve whether it's your own kid or someone elses.
You can do it!!! Go Cheryl! (Can you tell I'm cheering you on?) :)
My hubby and I had the same thing happen to us. We were newlyweds at the time. Talk about birth control! Kidding!
Get the kids participating in the lesson. We used a lot of flannel board pics related to the lesson and let the kids put them up. They drew their version of Christ, families, etc on the board. We would pick one kid to help "teach" by being the leader in a song, or share a story about the topic. Yes, they did run off-topic, but it was hilarious!
Our goal was to get them to grasp one aspect of the lesson each Sunday, to let them have fun (within control), and to enjoy and have fun with them!
My mom was a recent Sunbeam teacher. When the New Year came around and she got a new group of 3 year olds, she realized how much the previous group had changed (grown up). So hang in there; it will get better. And hope that after you mold these young minds into well-behaved humans, they release you so you don't have to do it over again. :)
lol...you poor thing!! I have no advice, as Eric and I were absolutely horrible at controlling the little monsters in our nursery calling. But I will say enjoy it while you can, because you'll eventually move on and they'll put you in charge on teenagers, and then you'll really wish you could go back to the innocent, hilarious, little three year olds!! Or maybe that's just me... :) Good luck!!!
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