Helping with Primary

In our ward teachers are asked to find their own substitute when they will not be at church. Parker's teacher asked me to fill in one Sunday and so I took my turn. I prepared the lesson and brought an object lesson.

We have church in the afternoon and these kids are accustomed to getting a snack. No one pointed this out to me, so I show up empty ended as far as a snack goes. The lesson was on water and the object lesson was to let them drink some water. Parker's class is combined with the Sunbeams, so I can understand the need for a snack in the afternoon.

Now if any of you have taught primary recently, the lesson portion is actually quite brief and to the point. And with 3 and 4 year olds there really isn't much discussion to be had. I was relieved to find out that they were permitted to play with toys after the lesson.

I was the only teacher that day. What do I do when someone needs to use the restroom? I quickly left the room with the child in need and found my husband in the hall class. I sent him on the errand to find someone in primary to take care of the need.

Then I had a child that has ADD. He thought he should be the center of attention and kept talking real loud. I warned him that if he could not be quiet, I would put him in time out. Well that seemed to send him over the edge.

It kind of stressed me out to fill in for my son's class.

So when the sweet sister that visit teaches me, called and asked my husband and I to tag team teach her class of 6 year olds, we said sure we will help out. On the way to church Jim informs me that we have the Liechty twins. I joke that he should have warned me, so I could at least have a Diet Pepsi for the way home. Jim joked that I should have brought my caffeinated beverage to class and that would be sure to guarantee us to NOT be asked back for primary.

Jane Liechty is my friend, but she has her hands full with these boys. They definitely keep her on her toes. Her boys are the ones who used to kick the pews at church and we would secretly roll our eyes at how annoying it was. Now we have boys of our own and we understand better.

We get to class and are asked "where is the snack?" Um, no one informed us to bring a snack. These guys a little older. Jim wanted me to get out Pumpernickel pretzels from the car, but 1. I knew they would devour them, leaving no snack for our boys on the 30 minute ride home from school and 2. one boy has severe food allergies, (milk, eggs, and nuts) to name a few. I couldn't remember everything, but didn't want to chance a reaction. So no snack.

The one twin would not sit still. Jim's job was the teach the lesson and I was there for crowd control. I went over the primary room and asked for help. She sent me back with paper and crayons and instructed to let them draw while Jim taught the lesson. She also sent me with BINGO. Once again we made it through the lesson pretty quickly. Had the boys tell us about their drawings and played BINGO 27 times or until we were tired of it. Jim ended class with a game of Hangman.

We both left feeling very frazzled. Jim said never again. But I have been pondering this. We are asked to serve and help out. Some loving and patient sisters give up adult interaction, learning in Sunday School and Relief Society to teach my child. Is it my job to take a turn and help out even though it stresses me out? Should I try to to find something to learn in this experience, besides I know that I would never have survived in elementary education? I don't have the answers and am just enjoying Sunday school and relief society at this point. I am also more appreciative for those wonderful sisters who do work in primary and still have a smile on their face after wards.