I have a lot of kids. Seven of them in fact. And I did great at teaching the gospel to them. We read in the scriptures. Donovan's favorite scripture story? When Ammon cuts off the arms of the Lamanites trying to scatter the king's sheep. I would read it to him night after night.
It took us months to get through the book of Alma because I would say the words and the child that was "reading" would repeat it and after 1 chapter we were all ready to be done. I have a filing cabinet full of flannel board stories that I made and used to illustrate different scripture stories or concepts for the kids. We have a box full of "Sunday activities" that mostly just comes out at conference time now. They knew all the stories and the why's and how's and were excited for Family Home Evenings when it was their turn to give a lesson, or when it was their turn to give a talk in Primary, because they could grab a folder and didn't need my help. Well, except I had to hold the flannel board.
Except lately I have noticed that I haven't done such a great job with Brandi. I substituted in her Primary class the last two weeks and as I start the lesson and ask questions to get background before we delve into the lesson, the students sit and stare at me with blank faces. I can't answer for the other kids, but shouldn't she know the answers? That is what I keep asking myself. I know I have taught this. I know I have talked about this. Haven't we read this? And then I realize that I have taught, talked, read so many times over the past 23 years, that she, at the end of the train, has been overlooked. I haven't been as diligent as I should have been and she is the loser because of that.
Sure she understands about fast Sunday, tithing, the sacrament- you know the basics, but she doesn't know the reason that I call Donovan and Trevor my Stripling Warriors (and did you know that they are never actually called that in the Book of Mormon- just "my sons" and soldiers). She doesn't know why the Anti-Lehi-Nephis buried their swords or why it would be so horrible if they picked them up again in order to defend themselves. Or even the real reason that the Lamanites were always fighting the Nephites and the answer is not, "because they wanted the Nephite land". Nor have taught her the reason that she should know these things and what relevance they have to her life now and in the future.
I have been very remiss and lazy and complacent in my parental duty. I have let the normal, run of the mill, everyday stress of life take over and lull me to sleep in this regard and it is time that I woke up and did something about it. And for me, I am very thankful that I have a loving Heavenly Father that will allow me to repent and start over and try again, and again, and again until I get it right, until I can be diligent in all things that I need to be and that He will make up for those things that I lack.
*For my non LDS readers, the scripture stories that I reference come from The Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. I would be happy to answer any questions about them that you might have, or you may find another mormon friend and ask them or click on the link for more information.
Indeed.
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3 comments:
I'm only four years into this and I get complacent too. There's a constant need for instructing our children, and it's easy to forget when life gets chaotic and tiring.
sandra ~
you've done great. i bet you are being way too hard on yourself.
i wish i would've picked our church to join when my daughters were little girls. i wish they could've been more exposed to this church before when they were young.
soak up your blessings,
kathleenybeany
Don't beat yourself up! I discovered in teaching 12 yr olds, that the brain fairy takes all the stuff they learned before then and they all stare at you in amazement. We talked to several parents who were dismayed -- "We taught them that!" -- but I tell ya, it always happens. You're a great mom.
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