I’m convinced that my toddlers’ job is to teach me humility. I know that his developmental job is to play and grow, but I believe God is using him in other ways. In fact, if humility were the same thing as humidity- and they do look awfully similar- I’d be exactly where I am. In New Orleans, Louisiana, breathing in so much humility.
Last Sunday I served as the teacher to our toddler class at church. Wow, talk about humility.
First of all, we are supposed to be there 20 minutes early.
But there was a issue with my keys and I’m on my spare set. My original set fell into a black hole a few weeks ago and I don’t want to point fingers, especially at those who cant defend themselves or hire a lawyer, but I’m pretty sure this may have been toddler related too. Thankfully some church friends were able to help, since the hubs was already at church playing in the band, worshiping Jesus, not answering his phone. I finally arrived, un-caffinated, 5 minutes after church had begun, and 25 minutes after I was supposed to be there.
But I made it. Which I thought was impressive.
Well, the toddlers did not agree. 3 of the 4 toddlers in my classroom, did not want to be there. Now, I would’ve thought, “oh they just don’t go to daycare, so cant handle being dropped off”, except that my own toddler was among the worst. Not only does he go to daycare on the regular, I was staying with him in the class.
If you thought winning people over in junior high was hard, just wait until you get trapped in a room with toddlers.
I tried to convince them that our class was going to be fun…music, crayons, funny faces. Even my own kid wasn’t having it. He refused to be put down. Another toddler plotted his escape by the door and another cried so hard I thought he might explode.
It required lots of tears, another adult to attend to the cryer, and lots of gold fish but we survived. Mostly. And finally, all four of them were doing well, playing, laughing. I thought “ah, this isn’t so bad”,and just at that moment, my angel-child, who is so well socialized, because he goes to daycare, picked up a wooden water mellon slice out of a bowl of wooden fruit and threw it at the ONE child who had yet to have a meltdown that morning. It ricocheted off the middle of the boy’s forehead,and resulted in immediately waterworks.
“He, hu hu hu-hit my hhh-head!,” the kid whaled, barley breathing in between words.
“No, no, no” I attempted to correct. I so wanted this to be a great “ah ha” learning moment, I so wanted to succeed here. “We don’t throw” I explained, “thats very mean, that hurts”.
Ray gazed at me briefly, blinked and wondered away, as if to say “oh well, la la la.”
Humility. I’m learning so much humility these days.
1 Peter 4:8, “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” …or I will send you a toddler who will help.
Ok, last part is obviously my own rendition. But really, this is what it feels like and the forecast is 100 percent humility.
Thelma Socia says
Brit I love your stories… so truthful and spot on with how they react !!!
Glad to hear all is well.
thegingerlifeblog@gmail.com says
Thanks Thelma!!