Our RS lesson was about reverence and Kimball was good and let me stay to hear the whole thing. It was splendid! I love being in RS among the women in our ward, there's just something about sisterhood and learning from the wise women, young and old.
However, I have confusing feelings and I'm not sure the best way to go about teaching reverence to Kimball. So my questions are these: How many times is too many times to go back in the chapel? Isn't going in and out of the chapel 15 times just as disruptive as a crying child? I took Kimball out three times yesterday and the third time was my last. But on the other hand, kids need to learn that we sit and be quiet in the chapel. So if I don't take him back in, am I not teaching him that lesson? When I go into the foyer I don't let him play or walk or socialize with other babies, he sits on my lap, even if he throws a major fit like yesterday. Major fit, as in I took him outside because he was screaming so loud.
For anyone that does read my blog, I want to hear what has and hasn't worked for you. What would you do differently if you could? How many times is too many when taking kids in/out of the chapel? Is happy noise acceptable? (He's not crying or whining, he's just talking loud and doesn't know how to whisper yet). Please tell me all your ideas!
4 comments:
When Lucy was/is naughty, I can reason with her to an extent. I know that Kimball isn't that old yet. My feelings are that taking them in and out so many times is disruptive so I try not to do too many. There will come a point that he will get it. Just be consistent. It sounds like you ar doing all the right things. This is just a tough age. Hang in there!!
Truthfully, I don't think you can really teach them to be reverent at this age. Maybe I am wrong, but my pediatrician told me that apart from the word, "No," babies just don't understand yet. (And sometimes, they don't even understand that much.) I don't know about your church building, but in ours, the mother's lounge has a speaker, so sometimes I take Isom in there and let him do his thing and then I get to continue to listen to the speakers. That way, I don't have to worry about disrupting anyone. And honestly, 3 hours is just SO long. By the time that sacrament comes around, I am also ready to start crying, haha. :) If you can't do that, maybe if you just sit closer to the chapel doors? That way, if you need to leave, it is not as disruptive? Of course, I am no parenting expert, but I think it might be a few more years before we can expect them to hold still in church. Believe me, I have the exact same problem with Isom.
I think every mother feels this way, I feel like I can't keep my almost 5 year old quiet enough and my little girl yells, "POTTY" till we take her out.(usually just to get out, but you never now with that one!) If he is making happy noise I think you would be surprised that it isn't as loud to everyone else as it is to you. My friends always say that their kids were noisy but I never hear them. So maybe sit by other families with small kids and the noise will all blend. I bet people don't even notice! It is definitely a hard age and a long time for them to sit still and quiet, but like I said earlier if he is happy just noisy I think you shouldn't feel like you have to go out. Almost everyone has had small kids at some point or another and understands. Good luck and let us know if you figure out a way to keep kids content all that time!!!! :)
Ha! Since you asked, here is my two-cents (and experiences). Boys take longer than girls to learn to sit quietly. My boys couldn't consistently be quiet in the chapel until age 5, also about when they started school. They also do really well in school, and we never forced them to sit quietly in public, although we would frequently 'practice' appropriate behavior at home so they knew what was expected as soon as they were ready. When we would try 'no toys or coloring' with them, they would use hymn books to create a road for pretend cars. We also had the issue of having so many kids so close together, that the madness feeds off each other. My girls loved to go in the halls and dance and play (at ages 2 and 4), but they were happy. Quiet just isn't something we force since the last thing I want to do is turn my kids off to church as preschoolers. Your kids are always loudest to you. It's hard to always sit in the hall for years on end (or so it seems), so as long as they are reasonable, we stay in the chapel. Today we actually made it the whole meeting with no one going out, but that is so rare. As long as your kid is happy and people aren't staring at you with a look of get-that-kid-out-now, you are probably fine. Peek in Junior primary sometime, and then remember your toddler is tons younger! Kids progress as soon as they are ready to do something, and simply won't be able to comply if they are not ready (take potty training for example... done that 4 times and diapers are the way to go until they are absolutely ready.... some at age 2 yrs 2 mo, even a boy, and some at almost age 4). Anyway, good luck figuring out what works for you and Kimball. I've just learned to not be embarrassed, and I've never had someone tell me I should take my kid out or not come back to church. You'll do great! You're an awesome person.
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